A rare sighting of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard has been documented in Pakistan’s Cholistan desert, offering fresh hope for the survival of the species within the region.
The observation was confirmed by prominent Pakistani wildlife photographer Syed Rizwan Mehmood, who shared a series of high-quality images on social media platform X.
The photographs, taken on July 20, captured six bustards moving freely in their natural habitat — a moment described by Mehmood as one of the rarest in Pakistan’s wildlife documentation history.
What makes this sighting particularly significant is the possible recording of the species’ pre-breeding behaviour — believed to be the first visual evidence of such activity in the Cholistan desert. Experts see it as a strong indicator that the birds may be reproducing locally.
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Last year, five adult bustards and a chick were observed in the same region. This year’s confirmation of six birds — including apparent pairs — strengthens hopes of a small but stable population of the Great Indian Bustard living and potentially breeding in Pakistan.
Conservationists have long warned of the bustard’s rapid decline due to habitat loss, hunting, and limited breeding success. Native to the grasslands of India and parts of Pakistan, the species is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, with fewer than 200 individuals believed to remain worldwide.
