Two great Indian bustards bred in captivity have walked out into the Thar Desert, the first time birds from India’s breeding programme have been returned to the wild. ETV Bharat reports that the pair were released on Sunday in the Sudasari range of Desert National Park, near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
The bustard, known locally as the godawan, is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world and one of the rarest. Before their release the two spent two to three months in special rewilding enclosures, where they built up their flying strength and learned to find food and behave as wild birds do.
Both carry GPS tags, so scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India can follow them around the clock. The institute and the state forest department have worked together on the species for almost ten years, hatching and rearing chicks at dedicated centres. India’s environment minister, Bhupender Yadav, attended the release, which moves the project on from breeding birds to restoring them to their home.
Source: ETV Bharat