Three out of 11 Great Indian Bustard chicks recorded this season in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park were born through natural mating, a sign of reduced stress and better adaptation in captivity, forest officials said.
Experts believe this milestone could play a crucial role in stabilising the species’ population in the coming years.
The Bustard Recovery Programme, launched in 2016, is a joint initiative of the Government of Rajasthan, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation.
Forest officials said that the birds reproducing on their own is a significant achievement, with 79 bustards set to be released into open habitats.
Initially, experts feared captive-bred birds might struggle to survive in the wild, but the chicks’ healthy condition has boosted confidence in their readiness.
