Kutch: A Great Indian Bustard (Ghorad) chick has been born in the Abdasa region of Kutch after a gap of nearly a decade, Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia announced. This marks a key milestone in the joint efforts of the Forest Departments of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Union Ministry of Environment, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in wildlife conservation.

He commended the officers of the Wildlife Division for their dedicated efforts and congratulated all stakeholders involved in making the initiative a success.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav also lauded the collaborative efforts of the central ministry, the governments of Gujarat and Rajasthan, and WII. He extended his congratulations through a post on X.

The minister further highlighted that the success was achieved through a modern conservation technique known as the “Jumpstart Approach.”

Background: Project GIB

Aligned with the vision outlined in 2011 by then Gujarat Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conserve the natural habitat of the Great Indian Bustard, “Project GIB” was launched in 2016. Since then, the number of birds in breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra in Rajasthan has grown to 73.

Operation Egg Transfer: How the Breakthrough Happened

Due to the absence of male Great Indian Bustards in Kutch, eggs laid by females remained infertile. To address this challenge, a carefully planned intervention was undertaken.

• Trans-state transfer: A fertilised egg was sourced from a breeding centre in Rajasthan and transported to Kutch in a portable incubator after a continuous 19-hour road journey.
• Nest replacement: On March 22, the fertilised egg was placed in the nest of a female Ghorad, replacing an infertile one. The egg was then naturally incubated by the bird.
• Successful hatching: The egg hatched on March 26, resulting in the birth of a healthy chick.

Future Monitoring

The female bird and the chick are currently under continuous observation by a field monitoring team. Modhwadia said the achievement marks a significant milestone for scientists, forest officials, and wildlife conservationists, and reinforces India’s commitment to preserving its biodiversity. DeshGujarat