Barmer/Jaisalmer, April 12 -- The critically endangered Great Indian Bustard has started breeding through natural mating in Rajasthan's Desert National Park, with chicks being born without "human-assisted" breeding efforts for the first time in recent years, officials said on Saturday. Forest officials said three of the 11 chicks recorded this season were born through natural mating, indicating reduced stress in captivity and better adaptation. "This is the first time such progress has been observed in the fourth phase of the conservation programme," the officials said. The Bustard Recovery Programme, launched in 2016 in a joint initiative by the Centre, Rajasthan government and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation, has so far achieved key milestones including successful artificial hatching and breeding through assisted techniques. The current phase focuses on strengthening captive breeding while preparing birds for eventual release into the wild, the officials added. Confirming the development, district forest officer Brijmohan Gupta said, "This season three chicks have been born through natural mating. We set up the conservation centres in Ramdevra and Sudasari near Desert National Park in 2019 with significant challenges. Today, apart from 33 founder birds, 46 GIB have been born here." He added, "The biggest success is that scientists are now only playing the role of caretakers, as the birds themselves are taking on parenting responsibilities. If this momentum continues, the GIB population could reach a safe level within the next five years." For years, conservation efforts relied on collecting eggs and artificial incubation. Now, birds at conservation centres are reproducing independently, said officials....