great indian bustard

A spectacular light show at Delhi's Qutub Minar will highlight conservation efforts for the critically endangered great indian bustard on World Environment Day. This initiative celebrates successful revival efforts, including captive breeding programs and increasing wild populations, aiming to secure the bird's future and its grassland habitat. A new website will also launch to boost tree plantation drives.

Once on the brink of extinction, the great indian bustard, or Godawan, is experiencing a resurgence. Recent efforts, including a public tribute at Qutub Minar and the establishment of Godawan Day in Rajasthan, highlight growing conservation awareness. Collaborative initiatives involving communities and government agencies are proving crucial for the bird's revival.

Celebrated for the first time on May 21, Godawan Day in Rajasthan symbolizes a pivotal moment for wildlife conservation, specifically aimed at the great indian bustard, a species on the brink of extinction.

Rajasthan celebrates its first-ever "Godawan Day" on May 21, honoring the critically endangered great indian bustard. The state bird, declared in 1982, faces extinction due to habitat loss and power line collisions. Extensive conservation efforts, including breeding programs and community involvement, aim to secure its future. This day highlights the urgent need to protect India's vanishing grasslands.

Rajasthan's state minister announced that great indian bustard chicks from Jaisalmer breeding centers will soon be released into the wild after specialized training. He affirmed that eggs from these centers will not be sent elsewhere, emphasizing the bird's conservation as a top priority. The state is also officially celebrating Godawan Day annually on May 21.

Rajasthan's state bird, the great indian bustard, sees a conservation boost with two new chicks born via Artificial Insemination at Jaisalmer breeding centers. This brings the total at facilities to 86, with 26 born through AI. While wild populations remain concerningly low, captive breeding offers renewed hope for the critically endangered species' future.

At Rajgir, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary kicked off the much-anticipated Malmas Mela, a vibrant month-long celebration that draws pilgrims from all over India and beyond for its historic royal bathing rituals. While there, he took the opportunity to explore the zoo safari and assess the readiness of facilities for visitors, highlighting the importance of safety and comfort throughout the festivities.

A recent waterhole census in Jaisalmer revealed a sharp decline in the great indian bustard population, with only 41 sighted compared to 73 last year. Experts attribute this worrying trend to habitat degradation, power lines, and threats from stray dogs, raising concerns for the critically endangered bird's future.

India's Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted the nation's "coexistence-based management" approach to tackle human-wildlife conflict amidst growing economies. He emphasized that conservation efforts extend beyond mere numbers, focusing on habitat expansion, connectivity, and multi-species protection, including tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, and cheetahs, with the International Big Cat Alliance poised to foster cross-border cooperation.

Rajasthan’s conservation story has shifted from loss to recovery. A state once seen as a desert with shrinking habitats is now a national testbed for wildlife turnarounds — from Sariska’s 2008 tiger reintroduction after local extinction, to a tiger landscape that has expanded far beyond Ranthambore. Tourism has turned reserves into local economic engines, while leopard hotspots from Jaipur’s Jhalana to Jawai’s rocky commons draw global attention — and scrutiny. In the Thar, great indian bustard breeding offers cautious hope, even as Sambhar’s 2019 bird deaths warn how fragile wetlands remain