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AIPUR: A tagged Siberian Demoiselle crane has soared additional within the pecking order of lengthy flights, taking a detour to wing over 3,676km to Rajasthan and setting a brand new distance report for migratory birds arriving within the state.
Nicknamed Sukpak, the crane swooped right down to Khichan in Phalodi district. It was clicked by an Australian vacationer, Carolyn Synnott, at Khichan’s famend feeding station. Sukpak was recognized by a particular yellow-blue ring on its leg. The earlier longest recorded flight for a Demoiselle crane was about 2,800km, for a fowl tagged in Mongolia. “This is a male crane, tagged by our crew on July 20, 2024. He was the elder of a two-chick brood,” stated Elena Mudrik, a Russian crane researcher.
Crane’s reverse migration path exceptional, say specialists
Dau Lal Bohra, member of a Crane Specialist Group at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and a contributor to the 1000 Crane Project, attributed Sukpak’s record-breaking distance to the truth that it was ringed – tagged for identification – in far-flung Tyva, a republic in south-central Siberia of Russia.
“Tyva borders northwestern Mongolia and lies within the higher Yenisey river basin. Due to the area’s harsh situations, this was the primary time researchers efficiently ringed birds there. Since the ringing was carried out at an extra location, it elevated the migration distance,” stated Bohra.
What makes Sukpak’s journey extra exceptional is its surprising route by means of Pakistan. “Traditionally, Demoiselle cranes cross Himalayan valleys and enter India by way of Nepal. However, Sukpak’s route traversed Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan earlier than it entered India by means of Jaisalmer. This is the reverse of the same old migration path, sometimes noticed throughout their return journey. It is probably the most vital discovery in Demoiselle crane migration patterns,” Bohra stated.
At current, practically 20,000 Demoiselle cranes – Kurjan in native parlance – are roosting at Khichan for his or her winter sojourn. Recently designated as a conservation reserve, Khichan has grow to be a protected haven for these majestic birds. “Khichan is India’s first reserve for Demoiselle cranes. This milestone not solely enriches our understanding of fowl migration but in addition highlights the necessity to preserve these species and their habitats,” an skilled stated.
