Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into the wild at Desert National Park

Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into the wild at Desert National Park

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav released two captive bred male Great Indian Bustards into the wild in the Desert National Park near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on 4 October 2026, with Rajasthan Forest and Environment Minister Sanjay Sharma and senior officials from both governments present. The release marks a shift in the conservation programme from captive breeding toward rewilding; the programme's facilities currently hold 97 birds, including 57 captive bred birds that have produced 29 chicks this year. The Great Indian Bustard, locally called Godawan, is classified Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with Rajasthan considered one of its most important remaining habitats.