The bird mothers keeping a species extant

Nikhila Purohit cares for eight Great Indian Bustard chicks at a breeding centre in Jaisalmer, part of efforts to save the critically endangered species.

At 7am, Nikhila Purohit, 29, dons her bright blue apron and makes her way outside to meet her children. She has eight, and like most young ones, they are always hungry, so they are happy to see her (as most children are to see their mother). But Purohit’s children are special, and not just in her eyes -- they account for almost 4% of the numbers of their species, perhaps more.

Eight Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks that are being raised at a special enclosure in Ramdevra near Jaisalmer. (HT photo)

Purohit is the surrogate mother to eight Great Indian