In a first, flock of Sarus cranes spotted in Pali district

The Times of India , Friday, June 07, 2013
Correspondent :
JAIPUR: The state bird of Uttar Pradesh, sarus crane seems to be in a relocation mood to Rajasthan. The recent sighting of the tallest flying bird, 86 in all, is the largest number sighted at one place so far. The cranes (grus antigone) were spotted together at Jawai Bandh, Sumerpur.

"I was taken by surprise seeing so many of them at one place. Last year I had spotted 46 and one young one but this time they are a flock of 58 plus 18 in half a km area," said Bina Kak, minister for environment, forest and tourism.

The sarus crane (grus antigone) is the only resident crane of India which is included in Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and World Conservation Union (IUCN) and Birdlife International have placed this species under the category 'Vulnerable'.

Being tall, 155 cm, it is the largest of Indian cranes. Although widespread previously, recent changes in the habitat have reduced the range and population of the species. "In the last 20 years, I haven't seen or heard of such a large number together as their population has significantly reduced. It was in the '70s that about 500 were spotted at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, but now only 30 birds are reported in Bharatpur," said Rajpal Singh, member state wildlife board. This too he attributes to the existence of water at the park as even here the number had significantly reduced when there was no water.

Of the estimated 8,000 to 10,000 birds in the country, 2,500 to 3,000 are said to be in Uttar Pradesh which has adopted it as the state bird. Changes in land use, with extensive cultivation of sugar cane rather than paddy, and loss of wetlands are the major reasons for the species' decline. Other threats to the cranes include high-tension electric cables, criss-crossing the habitat leading to collision and death, indiscriminate use of pesticides, poaching of adult birds for meat, capture of adult birds for pet trade and disturbance by the farmers in the fields during the nesting period.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/In-a-first-flock-of-Sarus-cranes-spotted-in-Pali-district/articleshow/20469336.cms
 


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