State Bird Of J&K Is Under Threat From Stray Dogs

BY  ATHAR PARVAIZ • • Mar 20, 2019 • 688

The black-necked crane, the state bird of Jammu and Kashmir, is under threat from feral dogs that damage the bird eggs and chicks.

Basic knowledge about the importance and activities of Black-necked crane among people in the cold desert of Ladakh is so widespread that Chartses, local name for mating dance of this long-legged bird, is an important feature of every cultural programme or local festival. Ladakhis, particularly those living in Changthang region, consider black-necked crane not only culturally important, but a spiritual creature as well.  

They believe that sighting the giant bird is a sign of good luck. Many monasteries in Ladakh have even paintings of black-necked crane along with other spiritual paintings. 

“Black-necked crane is highly revered by the people of Ladakh. It is embedded in our culture and its dance (Chartses) is performed by Ladakhis in every cultural event and festival,” said Jigmat Takpa, former forest conservator of Ladakh. 

“Its drawings are found in our monasteries as the bird is considered very auspicious and the symbol of Ladakh’s unique ecology. Ladakhis feel proud about the fact that its only breeding ground in India, is in Ladakh,” Takpa added.  

Black-necked crane lives on high altitudes in Tibetan plateau, India and Bhutan, the only species of the crane family choosing such habitats. These birds build their nests in open environments which makes them vulnerable to predators. Both male and female are almost of similar size though the male is slightly bigger than the female. They have whitish bodies, long slender black legs and long black necks with a red crown adorning their heads. 

According to IUCN, black-necked crane is classified as Vulnerable because it has a single small population that is in decline owing to the loss and degradation of wetlands, and changing agricultural practices in both its breeding and wintering grounds. 

In Ladakh Himalayas, says WWF-India, the major threat to the successful breeding of black-necked crane is the damage caused to the eggs and chicks of the bird by feral dogs. According to WWF-India, “these dogs are owned both by armed forces as well as by the local nomads. Another threat to the bird is the loss of habitat.” 

The canine hazard 

The beautiful creature, also the state bird of mountainous state of Jammu & Kashmir, is under severe threat from human-kind’s trusted friends – dogs. “If there is any single biggest threat to the survival of black-necked crane these days, it is from the feral dogs,” said Takpa. “The dogs are even attacking the humans. How can these poor creatures escape from their wrath?” 

Continued

Ladakh’s revered bird is under threat from human’s best friend – dogs

by Athar Parvaiz on 22 August 2018

The black-necked crane, the state bird of Jammu and Kashmir, is under threat from feral dogs that damage the bird eggs and chicks.

Another threat to the bird is the loss of habitat owing to the loss and degradation of wetlands and changing agricultural practices in both its breeding and wintering grounds.

Dog attacks on wildlife are a threat to species survival in India and researchers suggest responsible dog ownership, control of free-ranging behaviour to reduce interactions with wildlife and dog population management based on scientific research and techniques.

The dance of Chartses, a mating jig of the black-necked crane, is an important feature of every cultural programme or festival in Ladakh where the bird is revered among the people. Ladakhis, particularly those living in Changthang region, consider the black-necked crane not only culturally important, but a spiritual creature as well. Many monasteries have paintings of the crane along with other spiritual paintings.

They believe that sighting the giant bird is a sign of good luck.

But the beautiful creature, also the state bird of the mountainous Jammu & Kashmir, is under severe threat from humankind’s trusted friends – dogs. In Ladakh Himalayas the major threat to the successful breeding of black-necked crane is the damage caused to the eggs and chicks of the bird by feral dogs, according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India who claimed that “these dogs are owned both by armed forces as well as by the local nomads.”

Another threat to the bird is the loss of habitat. According to IUCN, the black-necked crane is classified as vulnerable because it has a single small population that is declining owing to the loss and degradation of wetlands and changing agricultural practices in both its breeding and wintering grounds.

Continued  

Climate change and urbanisation blamed for bird numbers fall

AIJAZ HUSSAIN

18:55Thursday 17 December 2015

Climate change and haphazard urban development has been blamed for the dramatic reduction in birds arriving this year in Kashmir’s globally important migration of birds arriving from as far as northern Europe and Japan.

Wildlife experts said they have never seen so few birds – and so few species – feeding and breeding around the wetlands nestled between the region’s mountain peaks and plateaus.

Colourful birds like the whooper swan, stiff-tailed duck and cotton teal have not been seen in the area in recent years. While there has been little scientific study to quantify the falling numbers, former regional wildlife warden Mohammed Shafi Bacha says he counts only 18 species visiting today out of 28 that came three decades ago.

Scientists routinely reject the state’s official count of birds as unreliable, but even those numbers show a downward trend: During the winter of 2009-10, authorities said more than one million birds visited Kashmir’s wetlands. Last year, they counted just over half that number.

“The bird numbers have been fluctuating over the years, but now there is a steady decline,” Mr Bacha said. He called for an “urgent and massive effort to revive these wetland reserves for protecting the birds.”

Read more: 

CONSERVING OUR ENDANGERED AVIAN SPECIES AND WETLANDS

Satellite Telemeters were deployed to study the threatened avian species like Black-necked cranes and Bar-headed geese

NATURE

TAHIR SHAWL

The Jammu and Kashmir state has the distinction of being the only state in India where migratory Black-necked crane, the endangered bird species and our state bird; and Bar-headed geese, the highest flying bird ever recorded flying over Mount Everest, breed during summer. They along with some other migratory avian species breed in Ladakh region of the state. This again is the only Indian state which hosts wintering as well as breeding population of Bar-headed geese. During winter large flock of Bar-headed geese throng plains of Jammu particularly Gharana, Kukrian and Pargwal wetlands along India-Pakistan border.

Saving Endangered Black-necked Crane 

The cranes are large birds, with long necks and legs, belonging to Order Gruiformes. Some of the crane species are the largest flying birds. There are fifteen cranes in four genera. Their distribution is worldwide except North America and Antarctica. The richest diversity of cranes is found in continent Asia where eight species are found. Almost all the crane species are threatened.