The Crane Thesa(u)rus

Updated on: 7 February 2024 6:10 pm

Name: Grus antigone antigone
Population: 8,000-10,000
Habitat: Wetlands in northern, central and western India
Status: Globally threatened, declining
Fast facts: Among the oldest bird species, the world's tallest flying bird
Best seen in: Etawah, Mainpuri (UP), Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), Kheda (Gujarat)
Behaviour: Paired for life, the unison call of male and female Saruses is highly synchronised. Mating is mostly in the monsoon, preceded by a rain dance
Threats: Vanishing wetlands, reduced toleration by farmers due to crop loss, electricity cables, pesticide poisoning and wildlife trade