Union Minister Bhupender Yadav participates in the process for releasing two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards, marking over a decade of conservation efforts and a significant milestone.
In a crucial step forward for the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, along with Chief Minister (Rajasthan), Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma (through VC), recently participated in the initiation of the process for the release of two captive-bred GIBs from a soft-release facility. This release is scheduled to take place tomorrow at the Desert National Park, Jaisalmer. The rewilding of the GIB is the fruit of continuous hard work, dedication, and scientific pursuit over a decade in building a viable population of the State bird of Rajasthan.
The event also saw the review of the progress of GIB Conservation Breeding Centre at Ramdevra and Sam and the inauguration of the newly developed Rewilding Aviary. The Union Minister, along with other officials, also released a brochure on the decadal journey of GIB in the landscape. Rajasthan State Minister for Forest and Environment, Shri Sanjay Sharma, along with senior officers of the Union and State Governments attended the event.
The project has seen a remarkable beginning in Rajasthan and subsequently a successful ‘jumpstart’ initiative in Gujarat. The release of the GIBs will mark an important transition in India’s GIB conservation programme from establishing a viable conservation-breeding population towards rewilding and augmentation of the species in its natural habitat.
The exercise is being undertaken in a carefully controlled manner with limited presence at the release site to minimise human-induced disturbance to the birds. Learnings from the pilot release will be used to progressively refine the protocols for subsequent releases.
In his address during the evening, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan called this day of rewilding of the State Bird as a day of pride for the whole State. He highlighted how under the coordinated efforts of the Union and State Governments, the GIB which is part of the Thar's cultural heritage has been brought back from the brink of extinction.
Addressing the inaugural session, Shri Bhupender Yadav highlighted that the whole region of Thar Desert has emotional and cultural connect with GIB. The Union Minister thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision that led to the success of the conservation programme for GIB, which has become a global example during the last decade.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
