Project Great Indian Bustard shrugs off one lost bird, next batch to be released soon

India began testing whether captive-bred Great Indian Bustards could survive in the wild. On October 4, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav released two six-month-old males at Sam in Jaisalmer. Two more birds followed, making four released birds. The effort matters because the wild GIB population is estimated at only around 130.

On October 17, one released bird was found dead near a desert fox den. Officials said predator losses are expected during rewilding. They rejected any plan to remove desert foxes in large numbers. The released birds were six-month-old sub-adults. At that age, they are about 70–75% of adult size and can fly, but remain young enough to adapt.

The other birds were seen with wild GIB flocks within days. Scientists expect them to learn some survival skills through social interaction. Project GIB plans to release up to 30 birds annually in coming years, despite expected losses.

The Great Indian Bustard, or GIB, is a bustard species that lives in India’s grassland and desert landscapes. The article describes it as critically endangered and focuses on rebuilding its wild population through captive breeding and rewilding. Its importance is clear from the estimated figure: only around 130 GIBs remain in the wild.

The bird faces several dangers after release. Desert foxes can attack birds roosting on the ground at night. Raptors, desert cats, and dogs also threaten GIBs. Their eggs at wild nesting sites are vulnerable too. The article also reports concerns about the quality of habitat restoration, showing that protection involves more than producing birds in captivity.

Project GIB is breeding birds at facilities in Sam and Ramdevra, then releasing suitable six-month-old sub-adults. The project recorded 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026. It hopes to strengthen the wild population through regular releases and better habitat management.

The article estimates India’s current wild Great Indian Bustard population at around 130 birds. That small number explains why each successful release matters. Captive breeding is intended to add birds to the wild population, rather than relying only on the limited number of birds already surviving in natural habitats.

Project GIB’s facilities at Sam and Ramdevra house 97 birds. Forty came from wild-laid eggs, while 57 were bred in captivity. Most of these birds, 86, are being maintained for captive reproduction. The project recorded 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026, creating a growing pool for future releases.

The stated plan is to release up to 30 birds annually in the coming years. Scientists do not expect every released bird to survive. Dutta said that even a 30–35% survival rate would provide a major boost to the wild population. The actual number released can depend on each bird’s condition.

Released Great Indian Bustards face natural dangers in the Desert National Park. Desert foxes can attack birds that sleep on the ground at night. Raptors, desert cats, and dogs are additional threats. Eggs at wild nesting sites are also exposed to predators. These risks make survival uncertain, especially during the early stages of reintroduction.

One of the first four released GIBs was found dead near a desert fox den on October 17. Officials said such losses are factored into rewilding. They also rejected mass removal of desert foxes. Saudi Arabia’s Houbara project showed why: moving red foxes and feral cats did not significantly reduce predation, because raptors remained major threats.

A loss therefore becomes part of the learning process rather than automatic failure. Scientists can adjust release ages, numbers, and predator management while improving habitat. Project GIB will release up to 30 birds annually, even though only 30–35% survival may be achieved.

Saudi Arabia’s Houbara bustard project offered India an important lesson about release timing. The project began in 1986, before India launched its GIB captive-breeding programme in 2018. Between 1991 and 2016, it released 1,117 captive-bred birds across a 2,553-square-kilometre royal reserve.

The first batches suffered heavy losses. All five birds in the first batch were lost to predation. Only three of 12 survived in the second batch, and five of 14 survived in the third. Researchers moved red foxes and feral cats away from the release enclosure, but overall predation did not fall significantly because raptors remained a major threat.

The project changed its approach and released four-month-old flying sub-adults. This turned the tide. By 1994, survival had risen to 50%. By 2016, the locally extinct Houbara had reached a self-sustaining population of 300–400 birds. The experience supports releasing birds that can already fly.

Removing predators is only one possible conservation measure, and the article shows why it is limited. Predators quickly occupy ecological space left by other predators. Saudi Arabia’s Houbara researchers relocated red foxes and feral cats, but raptors still caused major losses. India therefore says mass removal of desert foxes is not an option.

Other measures include restoring suitable grassland habitat and creating protected enclosures. Rajasthan’s Forest Department reports about 200 square kilometres of fenced grassland inside the Desert National Park. Officials also carry out limited predator management through selective translocation around roughly 20 square kilometres of prime nesting areas. So far, they say they have kept dogs out permanently.

Release timing and social support matter too. Six-month-old GIBs can fly and are large enough to avoid many fox attacks, although they remain vulnerable while roosting. Released birds have joined wild flocks, where they may learn survival skills. Protecting habitat, nesting sites, and social conditions gives birds and eggs a better chance.

Captive breeding can increase the number of GIBs, but it cannot by itself recreate a functioning wild population. Birds still need suitable grassland, safe nesting areas, and ways to cope with predators. The article warns that captive birds cannot be trained to avoid predators they have never encountered. Poor habitat restoration can therefore weaken an otherwise successful breeding programme.

Natural selection also shapes reintroduction. Birds that can fly and respond to real threats have better chances of surviving. Saudi Arabia’s Houbara project improved results by releasing four-month-old flying sub-adults; survival reached 50% by 1994. GIBs are released at six months, when they reach 70–75% of adult size and gain flight capability.

Social learning adds another layer. Released GIBs joined wild flocks within days and may gain survival skills through interaction. Together, habitat, survival, and learning determine whether birds reproduce and persist. Project GIB aims for up to 30 annual releases, hoping to build a self-sustaining wild population over time.