J. Exp. Zool. India Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 801-803, 2018 www.connectjournals.

com/jez ISSN 0972-0030

POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN INDIAN SARUS CRANE AND

AGRICULTURE
Ashok Kumar Verma
Department of Zoology, Government Post Graduate College, Saidabad, Allahabad - 221 508, India.
e-mail : akv.apexz@gmail.com
(Accepted 11 May 2018)

ABSTRACT : The Indian sarus crane, Grus antigone antigone is the ‘State Bird’ of Uttar Pradesh. It is the monogamous, non-
migratory and world’s tallest flying bird. This is the only resident breeding crane of Indian sub continent, prefers open habitat
like marsh areas, abundantly irrigated paddy fields, grass land and wetland. It has been categorised globally as ‘vulnerable’ by
International Union for Conservation of Nature in its Red List because of its rapid population decline, which is projected to
continue, as a result of widespread reductions in its wetland habitats. The cranes are well known for their faithfulness and
living togetherness. A positive correlation was observed between the crane occurrence and the wetland.
Key words : Sarus crane pair, wetland, habitat, vulnerable and conservation.

INTRODUCTION
The sarus crane belongs to phylum: Chordata, class:
Aves, order: Gruiformes and family: Gruidae. There are
three subspecies of sarus crane namely the Indian sarus
crane Grus antigone antigone, Eastern sarus crane
Grus antigone sharpii and the Australian sarus crane
Grus antigone gillae. Sundar et al (2003) gave the
literature review of sarus crane in detail while Archibald
et al (2003) gave the first comparative review of these
three subspecies. The Indian Sarus Crane, Grus
antigone antigone (Linnaeus, 1758) is the largest of the
crane species found in India and prefers to inhabit close
to human habitation. Its population density is inseparably
associated with wetland habitats.
The sarus crane is now listed as globally threatened
i.e. vulnerable avian species (Bird Life International,
2017) because of its declining number. The name “Sarus”
has its origin from Sanskrit word- ‘sarasa’, which means
‘lake bird’ and the dance of the sarus has undoubtedly
led to the species getting the name. The skin of this bird
was first studied and described by Carolus Linnaeus who
named it as antigone in 1758.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Author used binocular, camera, motorbike, chappu
boat, field stick etc. for various purposes. Since sarus
crane is a huge bird and visible from a distance hence
sarus crane survey was easy. The study area was visited
regularly during first and third Sunday of every month in
the year 2016-2017. Besides actual sightings, inquiries
from local people were also made to ensure the estimate
of existing population and their perceptions about the
existence of the crane. All the observations were made
while moving through the chappu boat and walking along
the croplands, mud lands, natural areas using binoculars
(7x35 and 8x40-BEZIF BM-9) and canon cameras.
Study area
The Alwara lake is a natural lake and a part of
perennial wetland and is situated between the latitude
25 0 24’05.84"S – 25 0 25’10.63"N and longitude
81011’39.49"E-81012’57.95"W with altitude MSL – 81.08
meter. It is surrounded by agricultural fields and
connected to the river Yamuna and covers more than
1750 hectares. It is located in Sarsawan block of
Manjhanpur tahsil of Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh.
The lake is skirted by villages like; Ranipur, Dundi, Hatwa
and Bhawansuri in east, Paur Kashi Rampur, Alwara and
Gaura in the north, Shahpur, Umrawan in the south and
Mawai, Tikra and Dalelaganj in the west.
Population scenario
Globally the population of sarus crane is decreasing
at global level but Verma et al (2015, 2016a, 2016b, 2017b
and 2018) found its increasing trends during their
exploration from 2011 to 2014 in and around the Alwara
lake of Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh (India).
Verma et al (2016c) told that ecological and
environmental condition of this lake is nicely supportive
for the survival of vulnerable Indian avian sarus crane,
Grus antigone antigone. These are mostly seen in pair
 802 Ashok Kumar Verma
Fig. 1 : Sarus crane in pair.
Fig. 2 : Sarus crane pair with juvenile.
(Fig. 1) or in pairs with juvenile (Fig. 2) and rarely in solo
condition (Fig. 3).
The author and his team visited the villages concerned
a number of times, contacted the people and told as well
as convinced them not to kill or hunt the sarus cranes,
their eggs and juveniles. The authors organized
awareness programme with group of local people and
continued, it even when 1 or 2 villagers were there
(Prakash et al, 2016b).
Marital fidelity
The sarus crane pair is an eternal symbol of
unconditional love, devotion and good fortune with high
degree of marital fidelity (Verma and Prakash , 2017a)
as they mate for life (Prakash et al, 2016a) and made
for each other (Verma, 2016). The sarus is friendly to
human beings and likes to live close to them. Sarus is a
social and omnivorous bird and they make congregation
at particular and pre-decided sites, preferably in wetland
area or adjacent agricultural fields having adequate food
Fig. 3 : Sarus crane in single.
and water source. The family group occurs in whole year
but during non-breeding season, cranes are seen in
congregation for mate finding or pair formation.
NEST CONSTRUCTION
The sarus crane pair shows selective behaviour in
choosing plant species for nest construction (Verma A.K.
and Prakash S., 2016e). Prakash S. and Verma A.K.
(2016c) found that they use local medicinal flora in nest
building in and around Alwara lake of district Kaushambi
(U.P.).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
As a result of widespread reduction in the extent
and quality of their wetland habitats, exploitation and the
effects of pollutants, unplanned farming, irrigation and
non-adoption of wild life rules and regulations as well,
the number of sarus cranes is gradually decreasing at
global level. Due to its declining number, Indian sarus
crane has been now listed as globally threatened i.e.
vulnerable avian species (The IUCN Red List, 2017 and
Bird Life International, 2017).
However, Verma et al (2017b and 2018) found its
gradual increasing trends in and around the Alwara Lake
of Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh. The Alwara Lake
is an old marshy natural wetland situated in the tropical
part of India. Its wetland has valuable biotic resources
and a favourable site for sarus crane distribution. During
population census in and around Alwara Lake, Verma et
al (2017b and 2018) found that the presence of inundated
paddy fields, land under irrigation, vegetation at the edge
of the crop field, type of crop grown, wetland and the
openness of habitat are the major factor for the existence
and survival of sarus crane. Author thus observed a
 Positive correlation between Indian sarus crane and agriculture
positive correlation between the crane numbers and the
area of agricultural land, e.g., paddy field, sugarcane
field, kharif field etc.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Author is highly grateful to Dr Shri Prakash,
Department of Zoology, KA P.G. College Allahabad for
positive motivation and assistance. Author is also obliged
to local Gram Pradhans and authorities of district
administration Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh for their co-
operation during entire survey programme.
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