Kanchanpur: The number of Sarus cranes in Kanchanpur and Kailali region has been decreasing every year. Flocks of Sarus cranes that used to be seen in the wetland areas have lately become difficult to spot. With the encroachment upon wetland areas for cultivation, the habitat of the cranes has been shrinking each passing year. This means that the food for the birds has also been dwindling.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the existence of this bird is in danger due to farmers increasingly using chemical fertilizers along with pesticides for farming. The hunting of the Sarus, stealing its eggs, along with climate change and environmental pollution, has created additional risks. Ornithologist Hirulal Dagaura of the Nepal Bird Conservation Society noted that up to five Sarus cranes have been recorded in Kailali and up to 22 in Kanchanpur.
This bird can be spotted in Kalikich lake of Shuklaphanta National Park and in the wetlands of Beldandi Rural Municipality. Sometimes during the rainy season, cranes can be seen searching for food in rice fields in other areas and in the Ramsar site of Ghodaghodi lake in Kailali. Since cranes feed on insects that are considered harmful to crops, they can be viewed as beneficial birds for farmers. However, recently it has been observed that this bird itself is in trouble.
When ferocious animals like tigers, leopards, foxes, and wild boars come nearby, this bird alerts with a loud call. Therefore, the crane is also considered a human-friendly bird. According to ornithologist Dagaura, cranes rely on paddy fields and wetlands to make their nests and feed.
Dagaura emphasized the importance of protecting wetland areas and raising awareness about the habits, behavior, and habitat of the Sarus crane to involve local residents in conservation efforts. Experts suggest encouraging farmers to promote the use of organic fertilizers and organic pesticides while discouraging the use of chemical ones.
The Sarus crane is listed as a protected bird under the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has included it in the list of vulnerable species. According to statistics, there are more than 600 Sarus cranes in Rupandehi, Kapilbastu, and Nawalparasi. In South Asia, it is estimated that the number of this bird is about ten thousand.