Vadodara: Sarus, it seems, chose to make Gujarat an ideal home for himself. For a census conducted on the world’s largest flying bird in the state revealed that its population may have increased by about 20% in a decade.
Experts welcome this encouraging news as increase of the population despite the decrease in wetlands and the rapid urbanization of the state.
“During the two-day census that ended on Sunday, we discovered that the number of Sarus cranes have increased in the state. The last Sarus census was carried out by the GEER Foundation in 2010, when the average count was 1500. The census we carried out shows that the average population can be between 1,700 and 1,800 ”, said Dr Bakul Trivedi, secretary of the Bird Conservation Society, Gujarat (BCSG) which conducted the census.
“Sarus cranes generally stay in and around wetlands which are either being encroached or disappearing rapidly. Despite the reduction in their natural dwellings in recent years, Sarus cranes have increased in number and this is an encouraging revelation for bird lovers, ”Trivedi told TOI.
The census carried out on May 15 and 16 found that around 80% of the Sarus cranes were found in Ahmedabad, Anand and Kheda, while the rest were spotted in Vadodara, Dahod, Navsari, Surat, Kutch and Saurashtra. “The summer count is important because Sarus usually congregate in wetlands during the day and it becomes easy to spot them, which gives a better estimate of their numbers,” said Dr Anika Tere, senior census researcher.
The BCSG divided the state into five areas including the north, center, south, Saurashtra and Kutch and volunteers were roped up to count the birds. “We will now prepare a detailed report on the census figures, the home of Sarus, our observations and suggestions. The report will be submitted to the forestry department and state government so that they can act on the conservation of this bird, ”added Trivedi.