The population of the Sarus crane, named the state bird of Uttar Pradesh in July 2015, has been increasing and the trend is expected to continue this year too, forest officials said.
The information has come after the first round of the two-day Sarus census.
In 2021, the Forest Department survey counts put the Sarus crane figure at 17,329 in 2021, 19,188 in 2022 and 19,522 in 2023 and the trend is expected to continue this year too.
Uttar Pradesh's principal chief conservator of forests, Sanjay Srivastav, said, "We carried out the first phase of the counting on June 20 and 21 in the bird sanctuaries and forest areas where these birds frequent. The counts were recorded twice a day, in the morning and evening. Now we will commence the second phase that comprises ground trooping by forest rangers, and forest officers who also inquire about Sarus sightings from the masses."
"The process is time-consuming as all the data needs to be collected from different districts and ranges. That is why announcing the numbers may take a few more days," he added.
He said that it is expected that the Sarus crane numbers will go up this year as well.
Officials confirmed having recorded a marginal increase in bird population in the Meerut and Bijnor forest divisions.
In Meerut, 47 adult and 4 minor cranes were counted in the Malipur area of Bheekund wetland, Draupadi Ghat and Sikanderpur forest area of Hastinapur forest range while in the Bijnor division, a total of 146 adult and minor cranes were spotted during the survey, officials said.
These survey numbers indicated six new members had been increased in the Sarus cranes' population in the Meerut Forest division since the last survey in June 2023 and seven new members added in the Bijnor Forest division since the last survey in December 2023.
Sub-Divisional Officer of Bijnor Forest division, Gyan Singh, said that a maximum of 53 cranes were spotted in the Amangarh area, 37 in the Nagina forest range, 20 in Bijnor and Dhampur, 11 in Nazibabad and five in Chandpur.
Myanmar's earthquake death toll rises to 3,770
The death toll from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 3,770 as of April 28, the state-owned daily The Mirror reported on Tuesday.
ASF kills over 1,050 pigs in 3 districts of Mizoram
An official from Mizoram's Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD) said on Friday that the department so far declared 34 localities in three districts as ASF-infected zones -- Lawngtlai, Mamit and Siaha.
Death toll rises to 1,644 following powerful earthquake in Myanmar
A total of 1,644 people died and 3,408 were injured, and 139 remained missing due to the powerful earthquake in Myanmar, said the Information Team of the State Administration Council on Saturday.
3.8-magnitude earthquake shakes Manipur, no casualties reported
A mild quake, measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale, shook Manipur’s Noney district and adjoining areas on Saturday, officials said.
Over 510 pigs killed due to African Swine Fever in Mizoram
An official from Mizoram's Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD) said that over 510 pigs died due to the ASF during the past two weeks in 13 villages and localities in two Mizoram districts -- Lawngtlai and Mamit.
India's per capita CO2 emissions among lowest in world as green energy capacity surges
India, which has emerged as the world’s 5th largest economy, also stands out as a country with one of the lowest per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions globally as it balances growth with sustainability and switches to renewables at a rapid pace.
Amazing news, says PM Modi as MP earns another stripe for tiger conservation
Overwhelmed by another stripe which Madhya Pradesh earned the other day for its Madhav National Park, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media about the new recognition of the park as the state's ninth tiger reserve - a true sanctuary for these majestic creatures for many years.
Chamoli avalanche: Death toll climbs to 7; rescue ops for one remaining worker underway
The death toll in the Chamoli avalanche in Uttarakhand's Mana region has reached seven, with the rescue officials pulling out three more bodies on Sunday. Meanwhile, the search operation for one missing worker is still ongoing.