Route reversal

The Sarus crane is nesting in Punjab for the first time

Hope has taken wing in Punjab. Just when every wildlife enthusiast appeared content to have the endangered Sarus crane put in a brief annual appearance on its migratory trail, it appears the bird has decided to stay put. For the first time ever, the Siberian crane has begun to nest and breed at the Shalla Pattan wetlands near Gurdaspur and also at Kathlour, Narror Jaimel Singh villages, the site of the first proposed wildlife sanctuary in the district.

Confirming the development, D. Rajasekar, district forest officer (wildlife), Pathankot, says, “The wildlife wing of the Forest Department and the scientists of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have sighted more than 20 pairs at Shalla Pattan and Nangal.”

This, after the BNHS, at the behest of the wildlife wing, conducted a census of Sarus and other common cranes and assessed the ecology of the area. “Now, we are planning another Sarus census in summers,” says B.C. Bala, principal chief conservator of forests, Punjab.

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“Till last year, the cranes came in winters and returned by February. But this year, they have not gone back even after the migratory seasaon and their population is on the rise,” says Rajasekar. Earlier, these cranes were found along with thousands of common cranes at Shalla Pattan wetlands. “The reason they have not gone back could be that they find this habitat similar to that in Siberia or have become used to it,” he adds.

Globally, only 20,000 Sarus cranes are left, and of these, about 10,000 are found in the northern states. Unlike many cranes which undertake long migrations, the Sarus crane does not. “It was a pleasant discovery. For the past one year we have been working towards identifying critical habitats in the Shivaliks to convert them into protected areas for wildlife conservation,” says Jitendra Sharma, chief conservator of forests (hills) and in charge of the Shivalik Hills Wildlife Circle.

Now, the first santuary will come up in the Kathlour-Kasholian area over 1,900 acres. “For the first time in India, a community reserve proposal has been prepared with the active participation of people of Keshopur, Miani, Dalla, Magarmudian and Sherpur,” says Rajasekar.