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Great Indian Bustard Chick Hatches in Gujarat After Decade-Long Wait

A Great Indian Bustard chick has successfully hatched in Gujarat's Kutch region, marking the first birth of the critically endangered bird there in ten years. The milestone was achieved using an innovative 'Jumpstart Approach,' where a captive-bred egg from Rajasthan was transported over 19 hours and 770 km to a wild nest. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav credited the success to Project GIB, a conservation initiative formally launched in 2016 after being envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project reports steady progress, with 73 birds now in conservation breeding centres and plans advancing for future rewilding efforts.

Key Points: GIB Chick Born in Gujarat After 10 Years, A Conservation Milestone

  • First chick in a decade
  • Novel 'Jumpstart Approach' used
  • Egg transported 770 km from Rajasthan
  • Part of PM Modi's Project GIB
  • 73 birds now in breeding centres
2 min read

Bhupender Yadav praises hatching of Great Indian Bustard chick after a decade

A Great Indian Bustard chick hatches in Gujarat after a decade, a success for the 'Jumpstart Approach' conservation project initiated by PM Modi.

Bhupender Yadav praises hatching of Great Indian Bustard chick after a decade
"Gujarat witnessed the birth of a chick after a decade... through a novel conservation measure known as the Jumpstart Approach. - Official Statement"

New Delhi, March 28

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, on Saturday, announced the birth of a Great Indian Bustard chick in Gujarat after a decade, marking a milestone in the conservation of the endangered species, an official said.

"Gujarat witnessed the birth of a chick after a decade, in Kutch, through a novel conservation measure known as the Jumpstart Approach. The effort was planned a year back which was coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with the Forest Departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat and the Wildlife Institute of India," an official statement said.

This is the first inter-state jump start initiative of the GIB in the country that was successfully executed in Gujarat, the statement added.

A captive-bred GIB egg from the conservation breeding programme in Rajasthan was transported by road for more than 19 hours in a handheld portable incubator and was successfully replaced in the nest on March 22.

In Gujarat, three female GIBs are surviving in the grasslands of Kutch, leaving no possibility of having a fertile egg in the wild.

It took an arduous 770-km road journey to transport an incubated egg to the desired nesting site in Kutch, which was undertaken without a break by creating a halt-free corridor from Sam (Rajasthan) to Naliya (Gujarat).

In the social media post, Union Minister Yadav noted that Project GIB was envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2011 to conserve the Great Indian Bustard in its natural habitats, including Gujarat, and was formally launched in 2016.

He said that the project has been making steady progress in strengthening conservation and recovery efforts for the species.

The Union Minister said that the number of birds in conservation breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra in Rajasthan has reached 73, with the addition of five new chicks during the current breeding season.

He added that India is now moving ahead towards the rewilding of birds in the near future as part of long-term conservation planning.

Giving further details on the path-breaking initiative, Union Minister Yadav said that the female GIB tagged in August 2025 laid an infertile egg in Kutch, where the local population had lost all its males long ago.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
A chick after a decade! This gives me so much hope. It's heartbreaking to read that there were only three females left in Kutch with no males. This 'Jumpstart Approach' sounds like a clever and necessary intervention. More power to our wildlife scientists.
R
Rohit P
Good work, but I hope this isn't just a one-off event for headlines. Conservation needs sustained effort and habitat protection. The real challenge is ensuring the grasslands of Kutch are safe from industrial and renewable energy projects. Let's see long-term commitment.
S
Sarah B
As a birdwatcher, this is the best news I've heard all week! The logistical planning involved—770 km with a portable incubator—is mind-blowing. Hats off to the field staff who made this happen. Hope to see the GIB population recover.
V
Vikram M
Project GIB was envisioned in 2011 and it's delivering results now. This shows conservation science takes time and patience. The inter-state cooperation between Rajasthan and Gujarat is a great model for other wildlife projects. Jai Hind!
K
Kavya N
Wonderful! But we must also educate local communities living near these habitats. Their support is crucial for the chick's survival and for preventing poaching or habitat disturbance. Conservation is a team effort involving everyone.
M
Michael C

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