Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: After a decade-long gap, a chick of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has hatched in Kutch, marking a significant achievement in wildlife conservation for Gujarat. The birth, in the Abdasa region, follows a carefully executed operation to introduce a fertile egg from a Rajasthan breeding centre into the Kutch population.
State Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said the achievement is “a moment of pride for all of us” and credited the efforts of the Gujarat and Rajasthan Forest Departments, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for the success.
The initiative, known as ‘Operation Egg Transfer’, involved transporting a fertile egg from Rajasthan over 19 hours by road in a portable incubator to ensure its safe arrival in Kutch.
On March 22, the egg was carefully placed in the nest of a female bustard, replacing an infertile one. The female naturally incubated the egg, resulting in the hatching of a healthy chick on March 26. Union Forest and Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav conveyed his congratulations to the Environment Ministry, the Gujarat and Rajasthan forest departments, and the WII.
