Jaipur, Oct 2026: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said the Great Indian Bustard, locally known as the Godawan, is an important symbol of the state’s natural heritage and rich biodiversity. He said coordinated efforts by the Central and state governments have achieved significant progress in the conservation of the endangered bird.
Sharma said the state government had sanctioned Rs 9.25 crore for constructing a large aviary designed to provide a natural environment for the Great Indian Bustard. The facility is a unique initiative of its kind in India and will provide captive-bred birds an opportunity to adapt to natural conditions before their eventual reintroduction into open habitats.
The Chief Minister was addressing the inauguration programme of the newly constructed Great Indian Bustard Rewilding Aviary at Ramdevra through video conferencing on Saturday. He described the conservation initiative as a matter of pride for Rajasthan and said it would provide fresh momentum to efforts aimed at protecting the species.
Sharma said the state government was working continuously to conserve not only the Great Indian Bustard but also Rajasthan’s wider biodiversity. More than 29 crore saplings have been planted across the state under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ and ‘Hariyalo Rajasthan’ campaigns.
He said 38,622 Van Mitras had been registered to support forest and wildlife conservation. An MoU has also been signed with the Bombay Natural History Society for the conservation of the Lesser Florican in the Saonkhania area of Ajmer. Udaipur city has also been declared a Ramsar Wetland City.
Referring to water conservation, Sharma said four of the 10 inter-state water agreements reached in the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership are related to Rajasthan. He said several projects once considered difficult to achieve were now being implemented on the ground.
The Chief Minister said Rajasthan would increasingly be recognised not only for the ‘Hariyalo Rajasthan’ initiative but also as a state with improved water availability.
“Nature protects us when we protect nature,” Sharma said, underlining the cultural importance of environmental conservation. He said protecting the Great Indian Bustard was not merely about saving one species but also about safeguarding the entire Thar ecosystem.
He said the state government remained committed to pursuing development while protecting the environment and wildlife. Sharma also appealed to the people of Rajasthan to contribute to the mission of ensuring that the Great Indian Bustard can once again fly safely and freely across the open skies of the desert state.
Great Indian Bustard Conservation Gains Global Recognition
Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav said the entire Thar region shares an emotional and cultural connection with the Great Indian Bustard.
He said the progress achieved in bustard conservation over the past decade had emerged as an example at the global level. According to Yadav, the success of the conservation programme was the result of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sustained efforts by the Central and state governments, scientists, forest departments and local communities.
Yadav described the Great Indian Bustard as an umbrella species of the Thar ecosystem. Its conservation, he said, would also contribute to protecting grasslands, preventing land degradation and safeguarding important stopover sites for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.
He added that besides environmental benefits, Great Indian Bustard conservation could also generate economic opportunities for local communities through eco-tourism.
97 Great Indian Bustards in Breeding Centres
According to the state government, 97 Great Indian Bustards are currently housed at the breeding centres in Sam and Ramdevra, Jaisalmer, as part of joint efforts by the Central government, Rajasthan government and the Wildlife Institute of India.
The rewilding aviary at Ramdevra has been designed in consultation with experts and scientists. The facility provides captive-bred Great Indian Bustards with adequate space for flight, enabling them to gradually adapt to natural conditions and develop natural behaviours.
Sharma expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and said the facility had been made possible through the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
Minister of State for Forest and Environment (Independent Charge) Sanjay Sharma, along with senior Forest Department officials, also participated in the programme through video conference from Jodhpur in the presence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav.
