Abstract

5.Tools of conservation of Sarus Crane Grus antigone in Unnao region of Uttar Pradesh
Varsha Rani and Amita Kanaujia
The Indian Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) is tallest flying bird in the world. Once widely distributed in India from Punjab, Nepal, it has now been restricted only to the northern Terrai region in Uttar Pradesh. During the surveys carried out in the study period from February 2019 to Decemder 2021, the estimated population of Indian Sarus Crane was almost 1200-1400 cranes in Unnao, a major sarus prone area of U.P. Population estimates were done by Line transcit method using pair of binoculars along the roadside from their breeding sites, congregation places, while foraging, roosting,or at rest during day hours. As the breeding success is directly associated with availability of food, to increase the number of Indian Sarus Crane, their foraging grounds need to be maintained well. But due to rapid industralisation and arthopogenetic activities, their foraging sites are under threats, so if not conserved now, may result in decline in number of Sarus, the State bird of U.P.. Few measures have been put forward in the study for Sarus conservation in Unnao region. Keywords: conservation, Unnao, Indian Sarus Crane, Grus antigone