Jodhpur, May 28 -- In a significant projection that could reshape India's bird conservation priorities, a new scientific study has found that the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) may gradually shift its range westward-including into parts of Pakistan-due to changing climate and land-use patterns. While this shift could lead to an increase in climatically suitable habitat, the study warns that existing strongholds are still under threat and may become less viable if immediate conservation measures are not taken, the study published in the journal Ornithology Research concluded. The research was led by Amar Paul Singh, a research scholar at the Wildlife Institute of India, who set out to examine how climate change may affect the distribution of this critically endangered bird species over the next several decades. Using multiple ecological modelling tools and a combination of climate, land use, and habitat data, the researchers simulated future scenarios for 2050 and 2070 under both low and high greenhouse gas emission pathways to assess how the Great Indian Bustard's range might shift. Their aim was not only to identify new areas that could become suitable for the species but also to evaluate the long-term vulnerability of its existing habitats. According to the study, the habitat of the Great Indian Bustard is expected to shift westward, including into parts of Pakistan, mainly because of changes in winter rainfall and land use. The study found that winter rain-called precipitation of the coldest quarter-plays the biggest role in deciding where the bird can survive. In the future, some areas in the west are likely to receive more winter rain, making them better suited for the bustard's needs. This increase in rainfall can help grasses and plants grow, improving food availability and nesting conditions. The researchers said that the Great Indian Bustard is a large, ground-dwelling bird once widely found across India's arid and semi-arid grasslands. Today, with fewer than 150 birds remaining-mostly in Rajasthan-it is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN red list. Habitat loss, poaching, and power-line collisions have already pushed the species to the brink of extinction. According to Singh, the bird's current suitable habitat spans approximately 70,000 square kilometres, covering parts of India and Pakistan. His projections show that under both optimistic and high-emission carbon emission scenarios, this range could expand significantly-by up to 50% by 2070. However, this gain would come with serious trade-offs. Singh explained that parts of the species' existing habitat, particularly in India, may witness localised losses of up to 8% by 2050, depending on emission levels....