Barmer/Jaisalmer, April 26 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 133rd Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, highlighted on going conservation efforts to protect the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), saying that scientific interventions and sustained ground actions helped in the conservation of the species.

Calling the bird "hallmark" of desert, PM Modi said, "At one point, its [Great Indian Bustards] numbers had dwindled to a trickle. The situation was such that this bird was on the verge of extinction."

However, with the help of scientific methods, including artificial insemination technology and setting up dedicated breeding centres at Ramdevra and Sudashri in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, he said the species is now recovering....