Desert National Park in Rajasthan welcomes baby 'Godawan'

JAISALMER: A hatchling of the Great Indian Bustard ( Godawan), a near-extinct species and the state bird of Rajasthan, was born at the Desert National Park here, as part of the Union environment ministry's 2012 'species recovery program'.

In attempts to save the endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), two birds laid one egg each in Rajsthan forest department's enclosure here recently, of which one hatchling appeared openly after she incubated the egg yesterday, a district official said on Sunday.

The program was conducted at the Desert National Park, notified for conservation and saving the GIB in Jaisalmer.

The park's deputy director Anoop K R confirmed the birth of baby GIB in their enclosure saying it was the result of the efforts made for the last 5-6 years.

The rapid reduction of the population of India's bustards, their endangered status and the decline of grasslands led the ministry of environment and forests to prepare a species recovery programs in 2012 for three species of the Great Indian Bustard.

Rajasthan had also declared Project Great Indian Bustard and brought it under the umbrella of Wildlife Protection Act in 2013 at an initial cost of Rs 4.5 crore.