Lok Sabha Question No. 365 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-05
Subject: Black-necked Crane
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 365 ANSWERED ON 05.02.2024

## Black-necked Crane

## 365. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Ministry of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has assessed the population of Black-necked Crane, a rare bird species found in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to protect the said bird species in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) and (b) The  Wildlife  Institute  of  India  and  the  Zoological  Survey  of  India  have  been carrying out assessment of the black-necked cranes. As per the survey conducted by Wildlife Institute of India in 2016-2017 in Ladakh region, the population size of  black  necked  crane  was  around  66-69  individuals.In  Arunachal  Pradesh,  a small population of approximately 11 individuals arrives during winter months.
- (c) The important steps taken to protect bird species include:
- (i) The Black-necked Crane ( Grus nigricollis )  is  listed  in  Schedule  I  of  the Wild Life (Protection) Act,  1972, thereby according them  the  highest  degree of protection.
- (ii) The  species  is  also  listed  in  Appendix  I  of  Convention  on  International Trade  in  Endangered  Species  of  wild  fauna  and  flora  and  the  Convention  on conservation of Migratory Species.
- (iii) The  important  habitats  of  Black-necked  Crane  have  been  notified  as  a Protected Areas, for example, Changthang Sanctuary, Ladakh.
- (iv) The  Tso  Kar  Wetlands  Complex,  an  important  foraging  and  breeding ground  for  Black-necked  Crane  has  been  designated  as  a  Ramsar  Site  in December 2020.

(v) The National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031) released by the Ministry in  October  2017  provides  for  specific  Chapters  and  priority  actions  on  various aspects of wildlife conservation like, conservation of threatened species, mitigating human wildlife conflict, conservation of inland and coastal and marine ecosystems, landscape level conservation, etc.

(vi) The  Central  Government  provides  financial  assistance  to  State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country.

(vii) In accordance with provisions contained under Section 33 of the Wild Life (Protection)  Act,  1972,  the  Ministry  has  issued  guidelines  for  the  process  of management planning for Protected Areas.

(viii) The  Government  of  India  has  initiated  Mission  LiFE  (Lifestyle  for Environment)  programme,  that  aims  to  generate  public  awareness  about  the environment, and conservation.

(ix) Important  days  such  as  World  Wildlife  Day,    Wetlands  Day,  Migratory Bird Day, etc. and  Wildlife Week are celebrated to bring in more awareness on wildlife and biodiversity among the public.

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