Sarus census begins today in three districts

Nagpur: The 7-day annual ‘Sarus census’ would kick off in Gondia and Bhandara districts in Maharashtra and Balaghat district in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh from Saturday.
Sarus cranes, whose status is ‘vulnerable’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) list. The tallest birds would be counted between June 8 and 14.
The seven-day exercise would be jointly undertaken by bird lovers, Sarus mitra, farmers, forests and wildlife departments of Gondia and Bhandara, and Sustaining Environment & Wildlife Assemblage (SEWA).
Last year, the census results had estimated a jump of 7 in the number of the tallest birds, which had depleted to just 5 over 15 years ago. Over 50-60 volunteers of SEWA in Gondia, Balaghat, Bhandara and Chandrapur districts had recorded the avian presence between 5am and 11am from June 10 to June 15, 2018. A similar number of volunteers are expected to take part this time too.
During 2017 estimation, 35 birds were recorded in Gondia while 45 in Balaghat. In Bhandara and Chandrapur, two and one sarus cranes were recorded respectively. In 2018, overall 90 birds have been recorded including 38 in Gondia, 48 in Balaghat, three in Bhandara and one in Chandrapur. In 2004, the number was five.
Sarus cranes are listed in Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. The majestic tall birds are found only in Gondia-Balaghat, and Bhandara and Chandrapur.
SEWA president Sawan Bahekar said the government needs to push for conservation of the bird. “We have been holding the census in isolation. These birds are found only in these districts. We are creating awareness among farmers about hazards of pesticides which is main danger to the cranes,” he said.
Like last year, the census would start from 5am to 10 am. It will be held at Balaghat on June 8 followed by Gondia and Bhandara the next day.
Ahead of Saturday’s census, a meeting was organized to identify census spots. ACF (Gondia) S Yuvraj, ACF (Balaghat) Devprasad, RFO of Gondia, Amgaon, Tiroda, Kirnapur, Hatt, Balaghat, Varaseoni, Khairlanji and SEWA volunteers were present in the meeting.