Factors Affecting the Population and Nesting Ecology of Sarus Crane in Rupandehi, Nepal
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Department of Zoology
Abstract
Sarus crane is the World’s tallest flying water bird listed as a globally threatened in the
IUCN Red List. Sarus cranes are distributed mainly in the wetland and farmland of
Terai of Nepal. The study was carried out in Rupandehi District on September to
December 2022 to identify the factors affecting population and nesting ecology of the
Sarus crane. Roads were used as a transect to count the crane in different area using
motorbike, rikshaw or on foot. A total of 174 individuals including 157 adults and 17
juveniles were recorded. Estimated density of Sarus crane was 0.32 crane/km². The
average area of nest was 1.95 m². Among the 28 nesting sites, 4 nests were found inside
the Lumbini Crane Sanctuary Area and 24 outside the sanctuary area. Population and
nesting sites of Sarus crane are influenced by different types of habitats and
environmental variables. Presence of Sarus cranes is found to be nearer to the road.
Also, the presence of nesting site relies heavily on the water body. Road construction,
destruction of wetland, conversion of farmland to settlement, electrocution were the
major threats seen in the study area. Increasing awareness to local people, restoration
of wetland and their protection and reducing the disturbance factors are some ways to
save the Crane in Rupandehi.