This is a major achievement in wildlife conservation, as a chick of the extremely rare Great Indian Bustard, locally known as Ghorad, has been born in Gujarat's Kutch district after nearly a decade. The birth has been reported from the grasslands of Abdasa, and is being seen as a major success in conservation efforts.
Due to the lack of male bustards in Kutch, eggs laid by female birds remained unfertilized. To address this challenge, the State Forest Department carried out an "Operation Egg Transfer." A fertilized egg was transported from a breeding center in Rajasthan to Kutch in a portable incubator over a 19-hour road journey. On March 22, the egg was placed in the nest of a female bustard, replacing an unfertilized one.
After natural incubation by the female, a healthy chick hatched on March 26. Terming it a proud achievement, State Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said that the success reflects the effective use of modern conservation techniques.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav also congratulated the forest departments of Gujarat and Rajasthan, along with the Wildlife Institute of India, for their coordinated efforts.