9 Great Indian Bustard chicks were moved from Jaisalmer to safety in night op amid Pakistani shelling
Initially housed in Jaisalmer's Ramdevra Great Indian Bustard Conservation Centre, and Sam Conservation and Breeding Centre, both close to the India-Pakistan border which had come under gunfire and artillery shelling, the Great Indian Bustard chicks had to be evacuated. The birds—categorised as critically endangered—took a long journey to Ajmer, where they are now ensconed in an entirely different centre.
New Delhi: Nine newborn Great Indian Bustard chicks aged five to 28 days were among those who bore the brunt of the India-Pakistan standoff.
The nine birds travelled 10 hours, covering over 200 km from their birth centres in Jaisalmer to the Ajmer centre in Arwar village. The Ajmer centre houses lesser Floricans, another critically endangered bird and the smallest in the bustard family.
The transfer currently remains an 'interim measure' but also opens up the possibility of a satellite centre away from Jaisalmer, serving as a potential home for the captively bred Great Indian Bustards.
'Arwar is a bigger centre than Sam, and additional infrastructure is under construction. Activities in Arwar are also similar [to what happens in Ramdevra and Sam],' said Sutirtha Dutta, a Wildlife Institute of India (WII) senior scientist, who helms the bustard conservation programme. 'We are also building an additional cage, which will be ready in the next one to two months.'
The cages being developed are the same model as the ones existing in the other centres, except bigger, and the additional cage would accommodate 20 birds.
Meanwhile, Ramdevra is also upping the ante by building two new cages.
There are currently 64 captively bred Great Indian Bustards. A collaboration between the WII and the Rajasthan forest department, their conservation programme has been hailed as a success.
Ramdevra houses 28 birds, Sam 24, and now, Arwar nine.
No final decision on the transfer of Arwar's nascent Great Indian Bustard population has, so far, been made. 'Discussions are still ongoing. We haven't had any discussion on Ajmer as a third centre,' said Rajasthan Deputy Conservator of Forests Brijmohan Gupta.
However, Dutta said that 'for Great Indian Bustards of this size, as well as the lesser Floricans, the infrastructure needed is nearly the same'. He added that the India-Pakistan escalations, which made the conservation programme 'vulnerable', called for a 'spur of the moment decision'.
In the event of a 'calamity' at Sam, more birds could have been transferred. The Great Indian Bustards that moved reflect a genetically diverse stock, including those born by artificial insemination.
A over-200 km journey
Of the nine birds moved to the Arwar centre, four are from Sam and five from Ramdevra. Carried in AC vehicles on soft-suspension foam beds, the birds, accompanied by technicians, were moved on 10 May at night.
Transfers are regular between Ramdevra and Sam. Transportation, therefore, did not become as big an issue as it could have been.
According to Dutta, Great Indian Bustards can be transported easily when they are young till they reach three-four months of age.
However, the journey to Alwar was far longer than the travel time GIBs are accustomed to.
According to conservation biologist Sumit Dookia, who has been instrumental in turning the local population of Jaisalmer into Great Indian Bustard stakeholders, the move was in the pipeline. However, the India-Pakistan conflict hastened the process.
'Over the last two to three years, efforts have been made to build a centre away from Jaisalmer,' he said. 'The current escalatory situation was used to convince local people that this was a move to save the Great Indian Bustard from the upcoming situation.'
The locals were reluctant about the transfer since they have forged a deep bond with the Great Indian Bustards, and tending to the wild birds is now a part of Jaislamer's culture.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
Also Read: Frantic car ride to hunkering in hotel basement, how my father's advice got me through Poonch shelling
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Identify your interests
I am in Class 12 (CBSE - Science with Biology). I am interested in a career in wildlife conservation but how do I go about it? Anna Dear Anna, Wildlife conservation is a rewarding field. Do well in your Class 12 board exams, especially Biology, as it will form the basis for your undergraduate studies. Look for colleges offering Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Botany, Environmental Science, Forestry, (Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry) or Biotechnology/Genetics. Check the curriculum, faculty, and research opportunities. Some prominent institutions in India for wildlife-related studies are the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun; National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru; the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal; and the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun. Look at the websites for admission-related information, entrance exams and eligibility criteria. To enhance your career prospects, a Master's degree in a specialised area is recommended. Some options include in Wildlife Science, Wildlife Biology and Conservation, Forestry (with specialisation in Wildlife Management), Environmental Science (with focus on Biodiversity and Conservation) or Conservation Biology. Potential job roles are a wildlife biologist or researcher, conservation biologist, forest officer, environment educator or outreach specialist wildlife veterinarian, policy analyst and so on. I completed my degree in EEE in 2020. Though I cleared the prelims of some State PSC exams, I am yet to get a job. I am not interested in working as an engineer or investing more time in higher studies. I am interested in social service. How can I make a career in it? Gopika Dear Gopika, Social service is a broad field. You need to identify your area of interest. Which issues resonate most with you? Some options include the education sector (working with underprivileged children or adult literacy programmes), healthcare industry (public health initiatives or creating health awareness and access), environment (sustainable development, climate change advocacy or conservation), Human Rights (advocacy for marginalised groups, legal aid awareness, working for disability rights), and so on. Gain experience through volunteering and internships, understand the realities of the field, and build connections. Look up NGOs, social enterprises, and government agencies that align with your interests. Websites like GiveIndia, Volunteer for India, and local NGO directories can be helpful. Consider short-term courses or certifications in areas like Project Management, Social Work/Development, Communication and Advocacy, Monitoring and Evaluation. I have done a PG in Social Work and am doing an internship. I am not interested in this field, but feel guilty because my family has invested so much in my education. My passion was to be a pilot, but I did not meet the height requirement and couldn't afford the course fee. I am now 25 and yearning for aviation. I am conflicted about whether to remain in the current field or pursue my passion. Name withheld You seem to be in a rough situation. While respecting your family's investment and feelings is important, your long-term happiness and career satisfaction are a priority. Take another look at the requirements for being a pilot, especially specific height regulations of different aviation bodies (both Indian and international) to see if there is any way you can make the cut. Research different flight schools and training programmes. Costs can be significant as well. Research scholarships and financial aid or modular training programmes, which may be a more cost-effective way to gain pilot licenses compared to integrated programmes. Are you willing consider other careers in the aviation sector such as Air Traffic Controller, Flight Dispatcher or Operations Officer, Airport Manager, Aviation Safety Officer, Cabin Crew, Aviation Ground Staff (Engineering or Maintenance) or Aviation Training and Education? Please meet a professional career counsellor and get a profile test done to assess your skills, interests, and values, and explore potential paths that align with who you are now. This will also help you navigate the emotional aspects of this decision. Also have an honest and open conversation with your family about your feelings and explain that, while you appreciate their support, your internship has shown you that social work might not be the right long-term fit. Emphasise your desire to find a fulfilling career where you can thrive. I finished Maths a year ago. What are the opportunities? Anishar Dear Anishar, If you are interested in higher studies, consider a Master's programme such as Maths or Applied Maths, Statistics, Data Science/Analytics, Actuarial Science, Master of Computer Applications (MCA), or an Master of Business Administration (MBA). Job opportunities for a Maths graduate could range from being a data analyst, actuarial assistant, banking associate, probationary officer, accountant, market research analyst and so on. If you would like to teach at the school level, you must do a Many government organisations (both union and state) conduct recruitment exams for various positions that require analytical and problem-solving abilities. Keep an eye out for exams like SSC CGL, UPSC, and State PSC exams. Research the different career paths and further education options. Look at job descriptions and course syllabi to see what aligns with your interests. Identify any additional skills you might need for your desired path like programming, statistical software, and so on and work on developing them.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Great Indian Bustards (GIB) revival hits roadblock again as Rajasthan refuses to share eggs, male bird with Gujarat
Gujarat's efforts to revive its Great Indian Bustard population have been thwarted again as Rajasthan refuses to share fertile eggs or male birds. This setback jeopardizes the survival of the species in Gujarat, where only three infertile females remain. AHMEDABAD: In a critical blow to the state's conservation efforts, Rajasthan has once again refused to share fertile eggs or male Great Indian Bustards (GIB), pushing one of India's most majestic birds closer to local extinction in Gujarat. Despite securing approval from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change for an innovative egg-replacement strategy - where dummy eggs were to be swapped with fertile ones from Rajasthan's breeding centre - Gujarat's project has failed to take off. The refusal, the third since 2015, has dented Gujarat's hopes, as only three female bustards remain in Kutch's Abdasa region. Although females can nest without mating, their eggs have been infertile in the complete absence of a male. The last time a male GIB was spotted in the region was in Dec 2018. Saying that strategy could have revived one of India's most critically endangered species in Gujarat's wild, senior officials said that the proposal was sent to Rajasthan for approval after the Union ministry's nod. The Gujarat forest department was hoping to implement the proposal this breeding season, which concludes in Oct. "Since it was a ministry proposal, the Rajasthan govt, instead of saying a direct no, said the experiment should be carried out in the wild on its own soil first. If successful, eggs would be shared with other states." Sources said this was the second time the Rajasthan refused to give GIB eggs. Conservation efforts in Gujarat have had their set of challenges. An official said that since 2019, the female GIBs in Abdasa have been laying and incubating infertile eggs and abandoning them some 20 days later. In 2024, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had offered a glimmer of hope by proposing the idea of bringing fertile eggs from Sam in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, and having them hatched by female GIBs sighted in Abdasa. Its suggestion also made the state responsible for monitoring the eggs and ensuring these are protected from predators. This idea was discussed at the 82nd meeting of the National Board of Wildlife held at Sasan in March this year. Minutes of the meeting state, "Dr H S Singh (board chairman) mentioned that there are three female Great Indian Bustards in Gujarat. They lay infertile eggs every year. If some fertile eggs from Rajasthan can be replaced, the GIB population in Gujarat can be recovered." An official added, "Chicks were to hatch and grow in their natural habitat, as those born at the breeding centre are released in the wild only after their third generation is born." WII officials say that a male could have contributed to the local population, as the last known male in the region is believed to have either migrated to Pakistan or have died.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Six GIBs sighted in Pak's Cholistan desert in rare wildlife record
Jaisalmer: Photographs showing six Great Indian Bustards roaming in Pakistan's Cholistan Desert were shared on social media by Pakistani wildlife expert and photographer Syed Rizwan Mehboob. In a post on X, Mehboob termed the sighting as a "new record" in rare wildlife sightings in Pakistan. "I clicked six critically endangered Great Indian Bustards (GIB) in the Cholistan desert today. Amazing conservation effort by Punjab Wildlife Dept - I am in tears having seen 10% of global GIB population today," he said, adding that this includes the first-ever recorded pictures of mating foreplay by the critically endangered GIBs from Pakistan's Cholistan Desert on July 20, 2025. Mehbood said his excitement stems from the realisation that GIB breeding may begin in Pakistan soon since the gular sac of the GIB, inflated as a courtship display, was visible in the photographs. Last year, five GIBs and one chick were observed in Pakistan's Cholistan. This year, the sighting of six GIBs has confirmed the existence of a pocket of GIB population in Pakistan. Dr Sumit Dookia, a senior wildlife expert associated with the ERDS Foundation, involved in community wildlife conservation in Jaisalmer, said that sighting six GIBs in a day was a rare occurrence, adding that the species requires undisturbed open grasslands. tnn
