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Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
After Op Sindoor, 9 GIB chicks back at Ramdevra centre from Ajmer
1 2 Jaisalmer: One month after nine GIB chicks were moved from the Wildlife Institute of India's Ramdevra GIB Breeding Center in Pokhran to the Arwar center in Ajmer to prevent them from harm on account of shelling and loud explosions during Operation Sindoor , the bustard chicks have been repatriated to the Jaisalmer breeding centre. Desert National Park's DFO, Brijmohan Gupta, said that the chicks are only between 30 and 50 days old and are highly sensitive to loud noises. The chicks returned to Jaisalmer in specially designed vehicles. TNN
News18
08-06-2025
- General
- News18
Sindoor, Sophia: Rajasthan Names Great Indian Bustard Chicks After Milestones, Officers Of Operation
Last Updated: "By giving chicks these names, we are connecting the story of wildlife conservation with national courage," said Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer of Desert National Park The border state of Rajasthan is finding a unique way to honour the armed forces after Operation Sindoor – naming rare Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks born under a conservation project in Jaisalmer after key officers and significant milestones linked to the operation. 'By giving chicks these names, we are connecting the story of wildlife conservation with the story of national courage," said Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer of Desert National Park. This year alone, 21 chicks have hatched under the Project GIB initiative, including seven in May and the latest one on June 1. Operation Sindoor was launched early May 7 by Indian military to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Subsequently, India responded strongly to Pakistan's attempts to target its military and civilian areas with drones, missiles and other weapons. THE NAMES The naming began with a chick born on May 5 being called ' Sindoor ' after the military operation. Others followed: 'Atom' (May 9) signifies the mission's strategic power; 'Mishri' (May 19) honours an undercover cyber intelligence officer; 'Vyom' (May 23) is named after Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and 'Sophia' (May 24) is dedicated to Colonel Sophia Qureshi, the two officers led the official media briefing of the operation. 'It's not just about saving a bird, it's about preserving the values that define us as a nation," Gupta added. THE GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD The Great Indian Bustard has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching, and infrastructural threats like power lines. Presently, fewer than 150 remain in the wild, most of them in Rajasthan. To counter this crisis, Project GIB was launched in 2018 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Rajasthan Forest Department. The breeding centres at Sudasari and Sam are equipped with AI-enabled surveillance, temperature-controlled incubators, and sensor-based monitoring systems. This advanced infrastructure ensures real-time tracking of egg conditions and chick health. Till date, the centres have successfully hatched and nurtured 65 chicks. The newly born chicks are being gradually trained in semi-natural enclosures to help them adapt to wild conditions. The eventual goal is their reintroduction into open desert landscapes, where their survival and breeding in the wild will mark a turning point in India's conservation journey. With PTI Inputs First Published: June 08, 2025, 12:44 IST
News18
08-06-2025
- General
- News18
Sindoor To Sophia: Rajasthan Names Great Indian Bustard Chicks After Key Officers Of Operation
Last Updated: "By giving chicks these names, we are connecting the story of wildlife conservation with national courage," said Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer of Desert National Park The border state of Rajasthan is finding a unique way to honour the armed forces after Operation Sindoor – naming rare Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks born under a conservation project in Jaisalmer after key officers and significant milestones linked to the operation. 'By giving chicks these names, we are connecting the story of wildlife conservation with the story of national courage," said Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer of Desert National Park. This year alone, 21 chicks have hatched under the Project GIB initiative, including seven in May and the latest one on June 1. Operation Sindoor was launched early May 7 by Indian military to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Subsequently, India responded strongly to Pakistan's attempts to target its military and civilian areas with drones, missiles and other weapons. The naming began with a chick born on May 5 being called ' Sindoor ' after the military operation. Others followed: 'Atom' (May 9) signifies the mission's strategic power; 'Mishri' (May 19) honours an undercover cyber intelligence officer; 'Vyom' (May 23) is named after Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and 'Sophia' (May 24) is dedicated to Colonel Sophia Qureshi, the two officers led the official media briefing of the operation. 'It's not just about saving a bird, it's about preserving the values that define us as a nation," Gupta added. THE GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD The Great Indian Bustard has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching, and infrastructural threats like power lines. Presently, fewer than 150 remain in the wild, most of them in Rajasthan. To counter this crisis, Project GIB was launched in 2018 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Rajasthan Forest Department. The breeding centres at Sudasari and Sam are equipped with AI-enabled surveillance, temperature-controlled incubators, and sensor-based monitoring systems. This advanced infrastructure ensures real-time tracking of egg conditions and chick health. Till date, the centres have successfully hatched and nurtured 65 chicks. The newly born chicks are being gradually trained in semi-natural enclosures to help them adapt to wild conditions. The eventual goal is their reintroduction into open desert landscapes, where their survival and breeding in the wild will mark a turning point in India's conservation journey.
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Sindoor, Vyom, Sofiya – newly-hatched Great Indian Bustard chicks in Jaisalmer get names that ring a bell
Operation Sindoor has become a symbol of national pride, and its legacy now lives on in an unexpected way — through the naming of newly-hatched Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks. To honour the heroes involved in the operation, the Rajasthan Forest Department has named four chicks born in May 2025 after Operation Sindoor and the individuals associated with it. The GIB, a critically endangered species found primarily in Western Rajasthan, is the focus of conservation efforts by the Ministry of Environment. Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer at Desert National Park, told The Indian Express, 'This is our way of remembering those who stood against the enemies. In May 2025, eight chicks were born. We named four of them: 'Sindoor' after Operation Sindoor, 'Vyom' after Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, 'Mishri' in honour of an undercover intelligence officer, and 'Sophia' after Colonel Sofia Qureshi. Our goal is not just to increase the bird population but also to connect wildlife conservation with national interest.' Operation Sindoor was launched early May 7 by the Indian military to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Subsequently, India responded strongly to Pakistan's attempts to target its military and civilian areas with drones, missiles and other weapons. 'It's not just about saving a bird, it's about preserving the values that define us as a nation,' Gupta added. At present, there are 65 GIBs at the Centre for Great Indian Bustard Conservation in Jaisalmer. In 2025 alone, 21 chicks were born through captive breeding programmes. The National Conservation Breeding Programme continues to work toward saving the species, whose global population is estimated to be fewer than 150, most of them in Rajasthan. Once found across India's grasslands, the GIB has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching, and infrastructural threats like power lines. To counter this crisis, Project GIB was launched in 2018 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Rajasthan Forest Department. The breeding centres at Sudasari and Sam are equipped with AI-enabled surveillance, temperature-controlled incubators, and sensor-based monitoring systems. This advanced infrastructure ensures real-time tracking of egg conditions and chick health. The newly-born chicks are trained in semi-natural enclosures to help them adapt to wild conditions. The eventual goal is their reintroduction into open desert landscapes, where their survival and breeding in the wild will mark a turning point in India's conservation journey. Gupta said the department's next focus is to enhance survival rates and reduce infant mortality. AI monitoring has already improved outcomes, allowing for early intervention and round-the-clock care. The team also involves local communities to foster a sense of shared responsibility for protecting this critically endangered species.
The Print
15-05-2025
- General
- The Print
9 Great Indian Bustard chicks were moved from Jaisalmer to safety in night op amid Pakistani shelling
Sam is 40 km from the India-Pakistan border, and Ramdevra is 225 km away. Initially housed in Jaisalmer's Ramdevra Great Indian Bustard Conservation Centre, and Sam Conservation and Breeding Centre, both close to the India-Pakistan border which had come under gunfire and artillery shelling, the Great Indian Bustard chicks had to be evacuated. The birds—categorised as critically endangered—took a long journey to Ajmer, where they are now ensconed in an entirely different centre. New Delhi: Nine newborn Great Indian Bustard chicks aged five to 28 days were among those who bore the brunt of the India-Pakistan standoff. The nine birds travelled 10 hours, covering over 200 km from their birth centres in Jaisalmer to the Ajmer centre in Arwar village. The Ajmer centre houses lesser Floricans, another critically endangered bird and the smallest in the bustard family. The transfer currently remains an 'interim measure' but also opens up the possibility of a satellite centre away from Jaisalmer, serving as a potential home for the captively bred Great Indian Bustards. 'Arwar is a bigger centre than Sam, and additional infrastructure is under construction. Activities in Arwar are also similar [to what happens in Ramdevra and Sam],' said Sutirtha Dutta, a Wildlife Institute of India (WII) senior scientist, who helms the bustard conservation programme. 'We are also building an additional cage, which will be ready in the next one to two months.' The cages being developed are the same model as the ones existing in the other centres, except bigger, and the additional cage would accommodate 20 birds. Meanwhile, Ramdevra is also upping the ante by building two new cages. There are currently 64 captively bred Great Indian Bustards. A collaboration between the WII and the Rajasthan forest department, their conservation programme has been hailed as a success. Ramdevra houses 28 birds, Sam 24, and now, Arwar nine. No final decision on the transfer of Arwar's nascent Great Indian Bustard population has, so far, been made. 'Discussions are still ongoing. We haven't had any discussion on Ajmer as a third centre,' said Rajasthan Deputy Conservator of Forests Brijmohan Gupta. However, Dutta said that 'for Great Indian Bustards of this size, as well as the lesser Floricans, the infrastructure needed is nearly the same'. He added that the India-Pakistan escalations, which made the conservation programme 'vulnerable', called for a 'spur of the moment decision'. In the event of a 'calamity' at Sam, more birds could have been transferred. The Great Indian Bustards that moved reflect a genetically diverse stock, including those born by artificial insemination. A over-200 km journey Of the nine birds moved to the Arwar centre, four are from Sam and five from Ramdevra. Carried in AC vehicles on soft-suspension foam beds, the birds, accompanied by technicians, were moved on 10 May at night. Transfers are regular between Ramdevra and Sam. Transportation, therefore, did not become as big an issue as it could have been. According to Dutta, Great Indian Bustards can be transported easily when they are young till they reach three-four months of age. However, the journey to Alwar was far longer than the travel time GIBs are accustomed to. According to conservation biologist Sumit Dookia, who has been instrumental in turning the local population of Jaisalmer into Great Indian Bustard stakeholders, the move was in the pipeline. However, the India-Pakistan conflict hastened the process. 'Over the last two to three years, efforts have been made to build a centre away from Jaisalmer,' he said. 'The current escalatory situation was used to convince local people that this was a move to save the Great Indian Bustard from the upcoming situation.' The locals were reluctant about the transfer since they have forged a deep bond with the Great Indian Bustards, and tending to the wild birds is now a part of Jaislamer's culture. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Frantic car ride to hunkering in hotel basement, how my father's advice got me through Poonch shelling
