Great Indian Bustard chick hatches in Kutch after a decade

New Delhi: Across the world, scientists, governments and communities are bringing plants and animals back from the brink of extinction.

In India, a Great Indian Bustard chick has hatched in Kutch, Gujarat, after a decade, bringing fresh hope for this critically endangered bird.

The success comes amid similar comebacks globally. In Spain and Portugal, restoring habitat and prey, breeding lynx and returning them to the wild helped the Iberian lynx grow from 62 mature individuals in 2001 to 648 in 2022. The return of the scimitar-horned oryx to the wild in Chad, Africa, and the saiga antelope’s recovery in Kazakhstan offer further proof of what determined action can achieve.

The development coincides with Wildlife Week, being observed from October 2 to 8, a time to celebrate gains while assessing what it will take to sustain them.

The Government of India’s Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme supports recovery action for 24 identified species and their habitats. States are mandated to undertake research, habitat improvement, protection and community participation.

The species span India’s landscapes: the Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan’s grasslands, the Sangai in Manipur’s wetlands, the dugong in coastal seagrass meadows and the hangul in Kashmir’s forests. The list is a starting point; India’s National Red List Assessment can show where focused efforts are needed next, officials said.