Home / Environment / Rare GIB chick born in Gujarat via unique jumpstart approach
Rare GIB chick born in Gujarat via unique jumpstart approach
29 Mar
Summary
- A Great Indian Bustard chick hatched in Gujarat's Kutch after a decade.
- An incubated egg traveled 770km from Rajasthan to Gujarat for this initiative.
- This inter-State conservation effort marks a significant step in species recovery.
A critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick has successfully hatched in Gujarat's Kutch region, a landmark event announced on March 28, 2026. This hatching marks the first GIB chick born in the area in ten years, achieved through the novel 'jumpstart approach' conservation initiative. This pioneering effort involved an arduous, non-stop 770-kilometer road journey to transport a viable GIB egg from Rajasthan to Gujarat.
The egg, part of a conservation breeding program in Rajasthan, was carefully placed into the nest of a female GIB in Kutch on March 22, 2026. The female GIB, which had previously laid an infertile egg, successfully incubated the fertile one, leading to the chick's hatching on March 26, 2026. This inter-State collaboration, coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Rajasthan and Gujarat Forest Departments, and the Wildlife Institute of India, signifies a major stride in recovering the species.
Project GIB, initiated in 2016, aims to conserve the Great Indian Bustard in its natural habitats. The conservation breeding centers in Rajasthan currently house 73 birds, with five new chicks added this season. India is advancing its long-term conservation strategy towards the rewilding of these birds, demonstrating a strong commitment to wildlife protection. The survival of this young chick is a beacon of hope for the species' future.
