Three new chicks of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard have been successfully hatched at breeding centers in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district through artificial insemination, officials report. This initiative has brought the total number of these majestic birds in captivity to 76.
The chicks were born at the Sudashri Godawan Breeding Centre and Ramdevra Godawan Breeding Centre, where officials confirmed the population has now reached 52 at Ramdevra and 24 at Sudashri.
Conservationists, like Divisional Forest Officer Brijmohan Gupta, hail artificial insemination as crucial to breeding in challenging conditions. The Great Indian Bustard, once thriving in regions including Rajasthan, now faces extreme endangerment due to factors like power line collisions and poaching. Conservation efforts, coordinated between state and central bodies, aim to reintroduce the birds into their natural habitats.