Overview
- The release on Sunday placed two male captive-bred Great Indian Bustards in Sam, Desert National Park in Jaisalmer as the first operational step of a phased rewilding plan.
- The birds underwent rewilding training in a purpose-built, pillar-less aviary and tunnel designed to build flight strength and natural foraging skills before soft release.
- Rajasthan’s Sam and Ramdevra breeding centres now hold 97 bustards with 11 birds earmarked for release and 86 kept for captive reproduction.
- The Wildlife Institute of India will lead scientific monitoring of the released birds and a technical assessment that will determine the timing and number of further releases.
- Conservationists warn key threats such as collisions with power lines, habitat fragmentation and predation remain unresolved and must be addressed for reintroductions to succeed and support local livelihoods through eco‑tourism.