In a historic achievement for Rajasthan, ostriches have successfully bred in captivity for the first time at the Ramniwas Bagh Zoo. Female ostrich Avantika laid 11 eggs, and one has successfully hatched, giving birth to a healthy chick.
The baby ostrich has quickly become a major attraction, drawing large numbers of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the rare hatchling. Special care is being provided to ensure its well-being.
Assistant Conservator of Forests, Prachi Chaudhary, emphasized the significance of this milestone, stating, “Ostriches are native to Africa, and their habitat differs greatly. After acclimating them to Jaipur’s climatic conditions and implementing proper breeding facilities, we successfully incubated 11 eggs laid on Holi, with one egg hatching successfully.”
This success follows an earlier attempt in March–June 2022, when eggs were laid but did not hatch. “This marks a very positive achievement for us,” Chaudhary noted.
Looking ahead, the zoo plans to build a large aviary to enhance breeding conditions for ostriches and other bird species. CCTV cameras have also been installed to closely monitor the mother and chick, ensuring their safety and health.
This breakthrough is part of the zoo’s ex-situ conservation efforts, which focus on breeding and conserving species outside their natural habitats. “Captive breeding is rare and requires special care, but this success is a positive step toward biodiversity conservation,” Chaudhary added.
With this achievement, the Ramniwas Bagh Zoo has set a new benchmark in wildlife conservation, fostering hope for more such successes in the future.
