For the first time in Iran, great bustard chicks have successfully hatched in captivity, thanks to a joint scientific and operational initiative involving Shahid Beheshti University. This milestone marks a significant step toward the conservation and recovery of this endangered species.
Dr. Farahmand Ahmadzadeh, Associate Professor at the Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management at the Environmental Sciences Research Institute and scientific advisor to the project, stated that the knowledge and techniques for breeding great bustard chicks in captivity have now been successfully localized and implemented in the country. The program, which utilized eggs collected from nests found in high-risk natural habitats, has resulted in the birth of three chicks that are currently being cared for at the Great Bustard Research and Breeding Center in the "Soutav Plain."
Explaining the importance of the project, Dr. Ahmadzadeh noted that the great bustard is the heaviest flying bird in the world and is currently classified as "Endangered (EN)" on a global scale. In Iran, its population has declined drastically in recent decades, with fewer than 20 individuals now residing in a very limited area near the city of Bukan in West Azerbaijan Province and a small part of Saqqez County in Kurdistan Province. Due to this severe decline, the species is considered a high conservation priority within the country.
He added that since captive breeding expertise for the great bustard did not previously exist in Iran—and due to the urgent need to establish a backup population—the initiative was launched as a scientific and research-based collaboration with the Environmental Sciences Research Institute at Shahid Beheshti University. Only one egg was taken from each nest, which typically contains two or three eggs, minimizing any negative impact on the wild population. Studies from Europe suggest that if the species’ behavioral and ecological sensitivities are respected, the bird is likely to lay a replacement egg when one is removed.
Dr. Ahmadzadeh concluded by highlighting that clinical monitoring, growth tracking, feeding protocols, and the collection of genetic and behavioral data for the chicks are currently underway. These efforts aim to improve in-situ conservation strategies and support the establishment of a viable backup population.