STATUS AND POPULATION OF SARUS CRANE GRUS ANTIGONE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR CONSERVATION IN UPPER LAKE, BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH

2012·1.9 MB·English

by  Sangeeta Rajgir

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 109(1 & 2), Jan-Aug 2012 143-145
STATUS AND POPULATION OF SARUS CRANE GRUS ANTIGONE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE
TO THEIR CONSERVATION IN UPPER LAKE, BHOPAL, MADHYA PRADESH
Sangeeta Rajgir1’2 and M. Khalique1
‘Bhopal Birds Environment Conservation Society, 30, Saleha Parisar, Narela, Bhopal 462 021, Madhya Pradesh, India.
2Email: [email protected]
Sarus Crane Grus antigone, the world’s tallest flying bird, is a residential breeding crane in India. It has suffered rapid
population decline in the last few decades. We discuss the findings of a study conducted on the Sarus Crane from 2008
to 2010 in the Upper Lake, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, designated as a Ramsar and Important Bird Area (IBA) site.
Census of the Sarus Crane was conducted on foot and by boat. Agricultural crop seeds and their shoots were seen to be
preferred by the cranes. General data was collected on the crops cultivated in the peripheral villages and the pesticides
used. The highest count 24 was in 2008, and numbers declined in the following years. The Sarus Crane population was
observed to increase during summer and decrease in monsoon. Various factors are responsible for the declining population,
mainly human interference and use of pesticides on crops around the IBA site. A systematic conservation strategy based
on awareness programme is recommended.
Key words: Sarus Crane, Upper Lake, population
INTRODUCTION and the wetland has been identified as an IBA (Important Bird
Area) (Nandi 2006).
Sarus Crane Grus antigone, the world’s tallest flying The Upper Lake was constructed in the 11th century by
bird (Archibald et al. 2003) is the only residential breeding constructing an earthen dam across the Kolar river. Outflow
crane in India and Southeast Asia. Its majestic presence has from the Upper Lake, which receives water mainly from the
graced ponds, rivers and submerged fields, and its call has Kolans river drains into Kaliasot river and finds its way to the
reverberated across the country for long (Vyas 2001). It is the Yamuna through the Betwa river. The Upper Lake, which is
mascot of our wetland and cropland. Mostly non-migratory aligned east-west, has a catchment area of 361 sq. km and a
in India, it often makes short seasonal movement between surface area of c. 31 sq. km. It is situated at 23° 12' - 23° 16' N and
dry and wet season habitats. In the 1960s, Ali and Ripley 77° 18' - 77° 23' E. The submergence area of Upper Lake at FTL
(1983) stated that the Sarus Crane is a common resident (Full tank level) is 36.54 sq. km and storage capacity is
throughout the northern parts of the Subcontinent; today its 117.05 million cu. m with maximum depth of 11.7 m.
distribution is fragmented. Its population has declined rapidly The Lake supports a wide variety of flora and fauna,
within a few decades (Choudhary et al. 1999). In the past few and provides an ideal habitat for food and shelter for a large
years the Sarus has lost most of its earlier distribution range. number of bird species. The Upper Lake has a partial urban
The present study is a major part of a research component in its catchment on the eastern end while the
conducted from 2008 to 2010. The study aimed to determine remainder is rural. The south-east part is surrounded by Van
the status and population of Sarus Crane in the Upper Lake in Vihar National Park, opposite which are the villages
Bhopal, besides planning a strategy for the conservation of Bishankhedi and Goragaon. A flock of Sarus Crane can be
its habitat. seen at the western end of the Upper Lake near a village
where the water recedes during summer. Sixty percent of the
STUDY AREA catchment area of the lake is predominantly agricultural. The
Sarus Crane feeds on agriculture crops, mainly wheat,
Bhopal is situated on a series of hills interspersed with soyabean, pulses, and seasonal vegetables. During the past
villages. The area has a dry climate except during the few years, the Lake has been subjected to pollution due to
Southwest monsoon. The Upper Lake in Bhopal is the oldest use of pesticide, discharge of untreated sewage, and runoff
and largest man-made lake in India and is part of the Bhoj carrying silt, and human disturbance, causing decline in
wetland. Bhoj wetland is comprised of the Upper and Lower numbers of Sarus Crane.
Lakes and was declared a Ramsar site in 2002. The southern Some studies were conducted on the avifauna of the
part of the Upper Lake is the preferred site for all birds, including Upper Lake. Only one study has been done on Sarus Crane
the Sarus Crane. More than 160 Sarus Crane (>1% of the by Nandi (2006), based on their spatial distribution and count,
reported total population in India) have been counted here. but further study has not been done on this species.
STATUS OF SARUS CRANE IN UPPER LAKE, BHOPAL
Fig. 1: Upper Lake: Yellow ring indicates Sarus Crane habitat
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Fig. 2: Sarus Crane Grus antigone in Upper Lake, Bhopal
Direct total count method (Javed and Kaul 2002) was
used for the census. Counts were done on foot and by boat
The maximum population of Sarus Crane was observed
from both east and west peripheries of the Lake. The boat
in 2008, and the minimum in 2010. It was noted that Sarus
could be used only in winter (post monsoon) when the water
Crane population increased from March to June every year
level was good. Counts were taken once every month from
and subsequently declined. The maximum number (24) was
06:30-10:30 hrs; counts were also taken randomly when the
counted in 2008, in May and June, and the minimum (04)
population changed significantly. The highest count was
was counted in August and September in 2010. It was found
termed as the total count of the month. General data on
that population of Sarus Crane increased during the summer
different crops cultivated in the peripheral villages and
season and started decreasing during monsoon season. The
pesticides used was collected during the study period.
number increased again from the beginning of winter till the
end of summer.
RESULTS
The data on agricultural crops and their pesticides was
collected during the study period (Table 1). The data revealed
It was noticed that the cranes preferred wetlands close
that different crops, namely soyabean, wheat, pulses, and
to croplands. Their optimal habitat included a combination
seasonal vegetables cultivated seasonally in the peripheral
of small seasonal marshes, floodplains, high altitude wetlands,
villages Bishankhedi and Goragaon. It was noted that more
human-altered ponds, fallow and cultivated lands, and paddy
than five varieties of insecticide and four varieties of
(Nandi 2006). Gole (1989) and Vyas (2001) stated that among
weedicide were used on these crops.
the different types of wetland habitats, the Sarus preferred
marshes, crop fields and reed beds, especially during summer. Table 1: Table showing season-wise crops and chemical used
The Sarus may be seen in harvested crop fields, feeding on on it in the study area
fallen grains, seeds, and insects.
Crops Seasons Chemicals used Nature
Wheat Oct.-Mar.
Gram (Channa) Oct.-Mar. Endosulfan,
Epichlorohydrin Insecticide
Soyabean Jun.-Nov. Chlorimuron ethyl Weedicide
Pulses Jun.-Oct. Endosulfan,
Malathion Insecticide
Corn (Makka) Jun.-Aug. Emamectin Insecticide and
benzoate acaricide
Vegetables Jul.-Aug. Endosulfan Insecticide
Chlorimuron ethyl Weedicide
Imazethapyr Weedicide
Sulfonylurea Weedicide
Fig. 3: Monthly record of Sarus Crane population during 2008-2010 Dichlorvos Insecticide
144 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDIAN ORNITHOLOGY
STATUS OF SARUS CRANE IN UPPER LAKE, BHOPAL
DISCUSSION The population at the Upper Lake increases during
summer when the aquatic fauna is exposed due to low water
The Sarus Crane population in Upper Lake, Bhopal, has levels and drying up of nearby water sources. It decreases
declined with every passing year. Various factors such as poor during monsoon as seed sowing during this period result in
monsoon, human encroachment on the periphery of the lake, the distribution of the birds in different crops fields. The
pesticide use on crops of peripheral areas and nearby population gradually rises again during winters due to local
agricultural fields, cattle grazing and stray dogs in Sarus migration. The declining population during monsoon is a
nesting areas, activities of fishermen, mechanical and manual cause for concern, and indicates the need for a conservation
desiltation programmes, and pollution are responsible for the strategy based on community involvement and general
declining population of the Sarus Crane. Pesticides and public awareness, which emphasise protection and
weedicides are possibly the biggest threat for Sarus as it feeds proper habitat management for the Sarus Cane in the
on seeds and shoots of crops. Upper Lake.
Ali, S. & S.D. Ripley (1983): Handbook of the Birds of India and and Forests, Government of India.
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Archibald, G.W., K.S.G Sunder & J. Barzen (2003): Areview of three BNHS. Pp. 25.
species of sarus crane Grus anti gone. Journal of Ecological Nandi, P. (2006): Protection of habitat of Sarus Crane Grus antigone
Society 16: 5-15. in the Bhoj wetland, India. Pp. 309-310. In: Boere, G.C.,
Choudhary, B.C., J. Kaur & K.S.G. Sunder (1999): Sarus crane count. C.A. Galbraith & D.A Stroud (Eds): Waterbirds around the world.
Wildlife Institute of India. The Stationary Office. Edinburgh, UK. 960 pp.
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Printed by Bro. Leo at St. Francis Industrial Training Institute, Borivli, Mumbai 400 103 and published on February 25,2013
by Mrs. Sumaira Abdulali for Bombay Natural History Society, Hombill House, Dr. Salim Ali Chowk,
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India.
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 109 (1 8i 2), Jan-Aug 2012 145