Great Indian Bustard chick killed by fox days after release in Rajasthan; rewilding programme on hold

A captive-bred Great Indian Bustard chick was killed by a fox in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, just four days after being released into the wild. The incident occurred at Desert National Park when the six-month-old male bird was attacked near a natural waterhole in the Sam area. Officials from the Rajasthan Forest Department and scientists tracked the bird's movements using a satellite tracking device before a field team was dispatched to recover its remains.

The bird was part of a government rewilding pilot programme aimed at reviving the critically endangered species by introducing captive-bred birds into their natural habitat. The initiative, launched by the Union environment minister, initially planned to release 11 captive-bred birds in phases. Before the attack, four male birds had been released in total, starting with two birds on October 4 and another two on October 14.

Following the incident, authorities put the release of seven remaining captive-bred birds on hold. Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India and forest officials have initiated a review of safety measures, protocols, and potential risks. Officials recovered the tracking device and collected blood samples from the site, while experts described natural predation as an expected risk in the wild that will not deter the ongoing conservation campaign.

Not yet reported: The reports do not specify the exact future date when the review of release protocols will conclude and when the remaining birds are expected to be released.