Black Necked Crane

Context: The Wildlife Institute of India and the Zoological Survey of India have been carrying out assessment of the black-necked cranes.

About the Previous Survey

• As per the survey conducted by Wildlife Institute of India in 2016-2017 in Ladakh region, the population size of black necked crane was around 66-69 individuals. 
• In Arunachal Pradesh, a small population of approximately 11 individuals arrives during winter months.

The important steps taken to protect bird species include:

1. The Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) is listed in Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby according them the highest degree of protection.
2. The species is also listed in Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of wild fauna and flora and the Convention on conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).
3. The important habitats of Black-necked Crane have been notified as a Protected Areas, for example, Changthang Sanctuary, Ladakh.
4. The Tso Kar Wetlands Complex (Ladakh), an important foraging and breeding ground for Black-necked Crane has been designated as a Ramsar Site in December 2020.

Black Necked Crane 

• IUCN Status - Near Threatened
• Characteristics
  • 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 feather is pale gray/whitish. 
  • A conspicuous red crown adorns the head. 
  • The bill is greenish and the legs and feet are black. 
  • The juveniles have a brownish head and neck and plumage is slightly paler than that of adult.

• Distribution 
  • The high-altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau are the main breeding ground of the species.
  • This species is mainly found in China and some populations are also found in India, Bhutan and Vietnam.

High altitude marshes and lakes of Tibetan Plateau (Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu), Sichuan (China), and eastern Ladakh (India) are the known breeding grounds of black-necked crane. 

The major wintering flocks are in Tibet, Yunnan and Guizhou (China) and Bhutan (Phobjika and Bomdaling Valleys). 

A small wintering population is also found in Sangti and Zimithang valleys of Arunachal Pradesh in India.

• Threats 
  • The unavailability of sufficient undisturbed habitat with suitable water levels is a major impediment. 
  • The increased human pressure (like grazing pressure on the limited pastures near the wetlands), and industrial development (like construction of dams) is also leading to the degradation of the wetland habitat.
  • Further, the major threat to the black-necked crane is the damage to the eggs and chicks, caused by feral dogs.