CM Bhajan Lal Sharma says unique facility will provide captive-bred birds an opportunity to adapt before being released into their natural habitat
Jaipur, Oct 2026 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday said the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is not only a natural heritage of the state but also an important symbol of its rich biodiversity. He said coordinated efforts by the Centre and state governments had resulted in significant progress in the conservation of the endangered bird.
Sharma was addressing the inauguration programme of the newly constructed Great Indian Bustard Rewilding Aviary at Ramdevra through video conferencing. He said the initiative was a matter of pride for Rajasthan and would give fresh momentum to efforts to conserve the species.
The Chief Minister said the state government had sanctioned Rs 9.25 crore for the construction of the large aviary designed to replicate the bird’s natural environment. The facility, he said, is a unique initiative in India and will allow captive-bred Great Indian Bustards to adapt to natural conditions before being restored to open habitats.
Sharma said the government was working not only for the protection of the Great Indian Bustard but also for conservation of Rajasthan’s wider biodiversity. More than 29 crore saplings have been planted under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ and ‘Hariyalo Rajasthan’ campaigns, he said.
He added that 38,622 Van Mitras had been registered to support forest and wildlife conservation. An MoU had also been signed with the Bombay Natural History Society for conservation of the Lesser Florican in the Saukhania area of Ajmer. Udaipur city has also been declared a Ramsar Wetland City, he said.
Referring to water conservation and development, Sharma said four of the 10 inter-state water agreements undertaken in the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership were related to Rajasthan. Projects once considered difficult to achieve were now being implemented, he said, adding that Rajasthan would increasingly be recognised as a green and water-secure state.
Sharma said protecting the Great Indian Bustard meant protecting the entire Thar ecosystem. He urged people to contribute to the mission of ensuring that the bird could fly safely and freely across the open skies of Rajasthan.
Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav said the Great Indian Bustard had a deep emotional and cultural connection with the Thar region. He said progress made in its conservation over the past decade had emerged as an example at the global level.
Yadav said the conservation programme was the result of the vision of Prime Minister Modi and sustained efforts by the Centre and state governments, scientists, forest officials and local communities.
Describing the Great Indian Bustard as an umbrella species of the Thar ecosystem, Yadav said its conservation would also help protect grasslands, prevent land degradation and safeguard important stopover sites for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.
He added that conservation efforts could also provide economic benefits to local communities through eco-tourism.
Under joint efforts by the Centre, Rajasthan government and the Wildlife Institute of India, 97 Great Indian Bustards are currently housed at breeding centres in Sam and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer.
The newly established rewilding aviary at Ramdevra, designed with inputs from experts and scientists, provides captive-bred birds with sufficient space for flight. This will help them adapt to natural conditions and develop natural behaviours before potential release into the wild.
Yadav, Rajasthan Minister of State for Forest and Environment (Independent Charge) Sanjay Sharma, and senior forest department officials attended the programme through video conferencing from Jodhpur.
