A six-month-old male Great Indian Bustard (GIB) released into the Desert National Park in Rajasthan was killed by a desert fox only days after being freed as part of an experimental rehabilitation programme, wildlife authorities said on Wednesday.
Immediate response and ongoing review
The bird, one of two captive-bred males released on October 4, was hatched and hand-reared at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) breeding centre in Sam, near Jaisalmer. Its movements were being monitored with a satellite tracking device. Officials said an alert from the tracker notified scientists and Forest Department staff, who reached the site in the park but found the bird already dead. Mutilated remains and feathers were recovered and the desert fox had fled the scene.
Following the incident, WII scientists and Forest Department officials decided to review the release procedures and safety measures at the release site before proceeding with further reintroductions. Authorities had planned to release a further seven birds as part of the same programme.
Programme context and significance
The release was described as an experimental step in rebuilding populations of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard in its natural habitat. The birds were hatched and hand-reared at the WII facility, reflecting nearly a decade of work by scientists, researchers and ground staff to save the species.
“This landmark success has been made possible by the nearly decade-long unwavering dedication of our scientists, researchers and ground staff who have spent years to ensure GIB reclaims the deserts of Rajasthan,” a post by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said following the October releases, adding thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for support.
- Release date: October 4 (two birds released)
- Age of bird killed: six months
- Location: Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
- Monitoring: Satellite tracking device alerted officials to the bird's movements
- Next steps: Review of release protocols before further releases of seven birds
Conservation challenges highlighted
The incident underlines risks that captive-bred animals face when reintroduced into wild landscapes, including predation at natural resources such as water sources. It also emphasises the tactical and logistical challenges of ensuring post-release survival while advancing an urgent species-recovery timetable.
Officials said they were monitoring the surviving released bird and that the mortality triggered an immediate procedural review. No further details about changes to release strategy or additional on-ground protection measures were released.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of birds released on Oct 4 | 2 (both male) |
| Birds planned for subsequent release | 7 |
| Monitoring method | Satellite tracker |
The Great Indian Bustard is among India’s most threatened species; reintroduction efforts have high scientific, administrative and political visibility. The loss of a captive-bred individual so soon after release is likely to prompt detailed scrutiny of site selection, acclimatisation protocols, predator management and real-time monitoring thresholds used to trigger field interventions.
WII and Forest Department officials have indicated they will refine safeguards before the next phase of releases. The incident will also inform wider debates on balancing the urgency of population augmentation with the need to maximise post-release survival probability through adaptive management and site-level mitigation.
Authorities did not provide additional operational details or a timeline for resuming releases at the time of reporting.
