Population and conservation threats on the vulnerable Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) in Nepal

The global decline in biodiversity is driven by habitat loss,
fragmentation, over-exploitation, climate change, invasive species,
pollution, and infrastructure development, especially outside protected
areas where inadequate policies exacerbate risks. These threats have
impacted the population of large wading bird species like the Sarus Crane
(Grus antigone), inhabiting agricultural-wetland areas. Despite predicted
increases in built-up areas and declines in agriculture and wetlands
areas, there are few studies on the globally vulnerable Sarus Crane in
Nepal, focusing on its population status and conservation threats. We
assessed the pre-breeding population status of the Sarus Crane in ten 10
known districts of Nepal from April to June 2023. Overall, we recorded 690
Sarus Cranes in five districts of Nepal, with 685 individuals and 11
roosting sites reported in Lumbini Province alone. No Sarus Cranes were
observed in the other five districts during this period. Wetland areas and
distance to transmission lines had a positive influence on Sarus Crane
occurrences, while built-up and farmland areas had a negative influence
during the pre-breeding season. Additionally, we recorded 42 fatalities of
Sarus Cranes due to electrocution and collisions in the last 12 years in
Lumbini Province. Our study provides crucial baseline data for Sarus Crane
conservation policies, especially during the dry season when populations
congregate in larger flocks. Protecting wetlands within and near farmland
areas and adopting transboundary conservation approaches are imperative
for the long-term conservation of the Sarus Crane and its habitat.