Ahmedabad: A Great Indian Bustard chick hatched in the wild in Kutch’s Abdasa grasslands on March 26, the first such birth in Gujarat in nearly a decade, is under intensive protection. Weighing around 150 grams, the critically endangered chick is being monitored round-the-clock by about 50 forest personnel stationed on watchtowers, working in shifts and relaying real-time updates to Gandhinagar.

To minimise threats, feral dogs and cattle are being kept away, internal roads have been temporarily closed, and damaged fencing is being repaired on priority. Even artificial waterholes have been kept dry to avoid attracting predators.

Officials said that while the hatching marks a major milestone, ensuring the chick’s survival in its early weeks remains a challenge. The effort is being supervised by experts from the Wildlife Institute of India, with senior forest officials on-site.

The mother bird, moving within a 3 sq km patch, is also being tracked via a tag, enabling rapid response to any threat. Local villagers have also been asked to avoid grazing and restrict movement in the area. DeshGujarat