Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, commended Rajasthan’s conservation initiatives for the endangered Great Indian Bustard. Once a symbol of the desert, the bird faced extinction due to habitat loss and power line accidents. Efforts including scientific methods, breeding centers, and rehabilitation programs have shown positive results in saving the species.
Jaisalmer Desert National Park’s District Forest Officer, Brijmohan Gupta, highlighted the collaborative efforts of the Central and state governments, Wildlife Institute of India, and the Forest Department in the conservation work. The use of ‘Artificial Insemination’ technology has been a significant breakthrough in this endeavor.
The declining population of the Great Indian Bustard raised concerns in 2018, but with scientific interventions, the numbers have been steadily rising. In 2025, 25 new chicks were born, and in early 2026, 14 more successfully hatched, with a mix of natural and Artificial Intelligence-assisted births. The total count of Great Indian Bustards in the breeding centers in Jaisalmer now stands at 82, with 58 in Ramdevra Conservation Breeding Centre and 24 in Sam Conservation Breeding Centre.
