Sindoor, Vyom, Sofiya – newly-hatched Great Indian Bustard chicks in Jaisalmer get names that ring a bell

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.