Vanishing Chick: Setback in Efforts to Save the Great Indian Bustard

A month-old chick of the critically-endangered Great Indian Bustard has gone missing in Gujarat's Naliya grassland. Despite conservation efforts using the 'jumpstart technique', forest authorities fear predation. The breeding program continues, aiming to restore the GIB population through a captive-to-wild transfer method.

In Gujarat's Naliya grassland, a conservation landmark has encountered a setback as a month-old chick of the critically-endangered Great Indian Bustard has gone missing. The chick, part of a novel conservation effort, vanished despite surveillance by teams from the state forest department and Wildlife Institute of India.

The chick was born using the 'jumpstart technique', which involves transferring a fertilized egg from captivity to a wild bird’s nest. This method aims to augment GIB populations, yet has faced challenges, including high predation risks intrinsic to the ground-nesting species.

The forest department, while disappointed, vows to continue its breeding programs. Efforts include tagging GIBs for egg retrieval from Rajasthan and enhancing habitat management to mitigate threats. The initiative reflects a broader strategy to secure and grow GIB populations.