Barmer/Jaisalmer, May 15 -- In a major breakthrough for the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), Rajasthan's state bird has recorded two new hatchlings at the breeding centres in Jaisalmer district, taking the total number of birds being protected at the facilities to 86. The two chicks were born on May 10 at the Ramdevra breeding centre and on May 11 at the Sam breeding centre. Both hatchlings were produced through artificial insemination, an advanced reproductive technology that is playing a crucial role in increasing the population of one of the world's rarest birds.With these latest births, the total number of Great Indian Bustard chicks born through artificial insemination has reached 26. Conservation scientists say the technique has proved highly effective for a species that reproduces very slowly in the wild, with females typically laying only one egg in a year. According to the officials, 61 Great Indian Bustards are being housed and monitored at the Ramdevra conservation centre, while another 25 birds are being maintained at the Sam breeding centre. Together, the two facilities now hold 86 birds, representing one of the most significant ex-situ conservation efforts for the species anywhere in the world. Scientists involved in the programme said that 18 chicks have been born so far in 2026. Of these, 13 were produced through artificial insemination, four through natural breeding, and one hatched from an egg collected from the field and incubated under controlled conditions. The success of artificial insemination is especially important because natural breeding in the wild remains extremely limited. According to the Wildlife Institute of India, approximately 128 Great Indian Bustards are currently surviving in open grasslands and desert habitats, but only two chicks were recorded in the wild over the past year. Officials further said that to improve long-term survival, they are preparing a specialised tunnel-like training enclosure at the Ramdevra breeding centre. The facility is designed to raise young birds in a semi-natural environment and teach them essential survival skills before they are released into the wild. They further add, "The training will help the chicks learn to forage for food, identify predators and adapt to natural desert conditions." Official said the goal is to ensure that the birds become self-reliant and capable of surviving independently....