Black-Necked Crane

• 24 Feb 2021

Why in News

Recently, a group of Buddhist monks in Tawang district has opposed the Arunachal Pradesh government’s renewed push for hydropower projects.

• The proposed projects would not only affect the nesting grounds of the endangered Black-Necked Crane but also threaten several holy Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the region.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • Both the sexes are almost of the same size but male is slightly bigger than female.
  • The upper long neck, head, primary and secondary flight feathers and tail are completely black and body plumage is pale gray/whitish.
  • A conspicuous red crown adorns the head.
  • The juveniles have a brownish head and neck and plumage is slightly paler than that of an adult.
• Special Significance:
  
  • The bird is revered by the community of Monpas (major Buddhist ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh) as an embodiment of the sixth Dalai Lama (Tsangyang Gyatso).
    
    • Monpas inhabit the West Kameng and Tawang districts, are essentially Buddhists who follow the Mahayana sect.
• Habitat and Breeding Grounds :
  
  • The high altitude wetlands of the Tibetan plateau , Sichuan (China), and eastern Ladakh (India) are the main breeding ground of the species, the birds spend winter at lower altitudes.
  • In Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, it only comes during the winters.
  • In Arunachal Pradesh, it can be seen in three areas:
    
    • Sangti valley in West Kameng district.
    • Zemithang in Tawang district.
    • Chug valley in Tawang district.
• Threats:
  
  • Damage to the eggs and chicks, caused by feral dogs.
  • Loss of habitat due to human pressure (Development Projects) on the wetlands.
  • Increased grazing pressure on the limited pastures near the wetlands.
• Steps for their Conservation:
  
  • World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir, has been working towards conservation of high altitude wetlands, with black-necked cranes as a priority species in Ladakh region.
    
    • In Arunachal Pradesh, WWF is working for the conservation of the small wintering population.
• Protection Status:
  
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

Source:TH