Three Indian bustard chicks housed in a converted tunnel in Jaisalmer

In this image released on July 9, 2026, a Great Bustard with its young, as part of the Great Bustard (GIB) project. (@byadavbjp/X via PTI Photo)

Three chicks of the endangered Great Bustard have been relocated to a custom-built converted tunnel at the Godawan Conservation Center in Ramdevra, Jaisalmer.

The ₹9.25 crore facility prepares captive birds for life in the wild by minimizing human contact and replicating their natural habitat. The Great Bustard, locally known as Godawan, is the state bird of Rajasthan.

The chicks will remain in the tunnel for about four months under CCTV surveillance. Food will be provided without direct human contact, allowing the birds to gradually develop survival instincts such as foraging, moving in open terrain and adapting to the desert ecology.

“We are now focusing on preparing these birds for life in the wild so that they can be safely rehabilitated in their natural habitat,” said Deputy Conservator of Forests Ashok Singh.

Forest officials termed the development as a “historic milestone” in the conservation programme.

After the wilderness recovery phase, the chickens will be released into the Desert National Park. The success of this initiative could pave the way for large-scale reintroduction of the captive-bred birds into the wild, fulfilling the long-term goal of restoring the bustard population in Rajasthan.

Published – 26 Jul 2026 22:19 IST