Jaipur, April 4 Three new chicks of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard have been successfully hatched at breeding centers in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, using artificial insemination technology, bringing the total number of birds in captivity to 76, officials said.
Two chicks were hatched at the Sudashri Godawan Breeding Center, while one chick was hatched at the Ramdevra Godawan Breeding Center, they said.
This brings the number of Great Indian Bustards, locally known as Godawan and designated as Rajasthan's state bird, to 52 at the Ramdevra center and 24 at the Sudashri facility.
"Artificial insemination is proving to be highly effective in the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard, as it enables breeding even in conditions where natural reproduction is not possible," said Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer at the Desert National Park.
He said that the sustained efforts being carried out in the Desert National Park landscape are now yielding encouraging results. "This technology has become a lifeline for the species, which is on the brink of extinction," he added.
The Great Indian Bustard, once found in large numbers across Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Pakistan, is now one of the most critically endangered bird species in the world, with only a small population remaining in the wild.
Experts attribute the sharp decline in its population to factors such as collisions with overhead power lines, poaching, and habitat degradation.
The forest department has adopted captive breeding in a controlled and safe environment as a conservation strategy to counter these threats.
The newly hatched chicks are being closely monitored by a specialized team to ensure proper nutrition, healthcare, and behavioral development, officials said.
Efforts are also being made to prepare them for eventual release into their natural habitats, they added.
The conservation program is being implemented with coordinated efforts of the state and central governments, involving experts, modern equipment, and scientific methods.
Officials said that the steady rise in the number of captive-bred birds offers renewed hope for the revival of the species and marks a significant milestone in wildlife conservation efforts in the country.