Gandhinagar: In a significant conservation milestone, a chick of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (Ghorad) has hatched in Kutch after nearly ten years, marking a historic moment for wildlife preservation efforts in India.
The birth was made possible through collaborative efforts involving the Forest Departments of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia highlighted that this achievement underscores the success of joint conservation initiatives.
Minister Modhwadia announced that the breeding centers at Sam and Ramdevara in Rajasthan now house 73 Ghorads, reflecting positive growth in the bird’s population. He credited the efforts of wildlife officials, under the leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, for this progress.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav also praised the collaborative effort, sharing his appreciation on X (formerly Twitter). He noted that the conservation success was driven by the use of advanced techniques such as the ‘Jumpstart Approach.’
The conservation campaign is rooted in the vision laid out in 2011 by then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, now the Prime Minister, which led to the launch of ‘Project GIB’ in 2016. The project aims to protect and restore the natural habitat of the Ghorad.
One of the key challenges addressed was the absence of male Ghorads in Kutch, which resulted in infertile eggs from female birds. To overcome this, conservationists collected a fertile egg from Rajasthan’s breeding center and transported it over a 19-hour road journey to Kutch in a portable incubator.
On March 22, the infertile egg in a female Ghorad’s nest was replaced with the fertilized egg, which the female incubated naturally. The chick was successfully born on March 26. Currently, the monitoring team is closely observing the mother and chick, ensuring their safety and well-being.
Forest Minister Modhwadia expressed pride in this achievement, emphasizing that it is a testament to the dedication of scientists, forest officials, and wildlife enthusiasts. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to wildlife conservation and ecological preservation through such innovative efforts.