Nine Great Indian Bustards were spotted together in the wild on 'Godawan Day' at Jaisalmer's Desert National Park, marking a significant success for conservation efforts.
The group included five females and four males, and the rare sighting took place in the Sudasari region during a minister-led safari.
Rajasthan's forest and environment minister Sanjay Sharma unveiled special statues to promote desert wildlife conservation and reviewed conservation and artificial breeding projects.
Sharma said the government is committed to protecting the species, with 130 Godawans in Jaisalmer's forests and 87 birds being protected at the advanced breeding centre.
The total Godawan population has increased to 217, with the government planning to strengthen natural habitat protection, egg safety measures, and breeding centre facilities.
The Great Indian Bustard is critically endangered, with only 120-130 left in the wild, mainly in Jaisalmer and Barmer.
Breeding centres use artificial incubation and insemination to increase the population, with India's first Great Indian Bustard chick hatched through artificial insemination in October 2024.
