Please, protect the Sarus? home!

IF YOU want to save Sarus, save its home.? This is how Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) director Asad R Rahamani made his point on the need to protect Sarus. ?The bird?s home is wetland. We need to understand that wetland is not wasteland. Therefore, there is need for a separate policy on wetlands. It?s a must,? he pointed out.

IF YOU want to save Sarus, save its home.” This is how Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) director Asad R Rahamani made his point on the need to protect Sarus. “The bird’s home is wetland. We need to understand that wetland is not wasteland. Therefore, there is need for a separate policy on wetlands. It’s a must,” he pointed out.

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Rahamani was talking to the media persons during his one-day visit to the city to attend the first meeting of the Society for Protection of Sarus in Uttar Pradesh, presided over by the Principal Secretary (Forests) V N Garg. Rahamani lamented that it was unfortunate that the piece of wetland was a wasteland for the state government. He hailed the efforts of West Bengal for having promulgated a law for the protection of wetland. “It is the only state in the country to have realised the significance of wetland,” he added.

About the existing wetland and its need for development, the environmentalist explained that it was that every wetland needs to be protected, but wherever it is possible we should make an effort to protect it. He said that approximately there were 8000 to 1000 sarus in the world, and major part of it was in Uttar Pradesh. The two sub species of sarus cranes found in the world are; Grus antigone antigone (found in Indian subcontinent), and Grus antigone sharpii found in South East Asia and northern Australia.

On rescue centres for birds, the director said though the issue was very important, the BNHS is unable to take the task of constructing one as it has many projects in hands. However he said Forest Department and the NGOs should come forward and build such centres. One of the burning issues, including shoddy handling of birds following seizures from illegal markets. About the erosion of Jhaditaal, the only habitat of swamp deer in Kishanpur wildlife sanctuary, following the change of course by the river Sharda, he said that the issue was very serious, but a study would have to be undertaken whether to protect it with engineering or ecological method.

Over 1.5 acres of Jhaditaal land has been eroded by the river causing huge damage to the swamp deer habitation.