Two captive‑bred great Indian bustards released in Rajasthan's desert national park

The wildlife authorities in Rajasthan released two captive‑bred great Indian bustards into a desert national park early this morning. The birds, bred under a government‑run conservation programme, are among the few survivors of a species listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Officials said the release aims to re‑establish a self‑sustaining wild population in the region's grassland and scrub habitats. The birds were acclimatised in a pre‑release enclosure before being set free, allowing them to adapt to natural conditions while being monitored by field biologists. Conservationists hope that the addition of these two individuals will encourage breeding and increase the species' chances of survival in the wild.