Sarus crane | Environment | UPSC |

The population of Sarus cranes in Uttar Pradesh is rising from 17,329 in 2021 to 19,918 in 2024, according to the latest summer census conducted in June 2024.

About Sarus Crane:

• Sarus Crane is known as the tallest flying bird in the world, featuring a wingspan of 240 cm.
• It is the State Bird of Uttar Pradesh.

Characteristics:

• Height: 52-156 cm; notably, it stands 152-156 cm tall.
• Appearance: Predominantly grey plumage, a naked red head and upper neck, and pale red legs.
• Social Behavior: Typically found in pairs or small groups of three to four. Known to mate for life with a single partner.
• Breeding: Coincides with the monsoon season; nests are built on water in natural wetlands or flooded paddy fields. Clutches usually contain one or two eggs, incubated by both parents for 26 to 35 days.

Habitat and Distribution:

• Found in northern and central India, Terai regions of Nepal and Pakistan. Historically common in paddy fields across several Indian states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Gujarat.
• Prefers open, cultivated plains, marshlands, and jheels which are conducive for foraging, roosting, and nesting.

Population:

• There are about 15,000-20,000 individuals in India, with a global population estimated between 25,000 and 37,000.

Threats:

• Primary threats include habitat loss and degradation, often due to the conversion of land for agriculture and infrastructure development like roads and railways.
• Additional threats include collisions with power lines and pesticide poisoning from foraging in agricultural fields.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule IV

Other Related Species: Black-necked crane

Ref: Source

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