ALARM BELLS have started ringing. The population of State bird--Sarus (grus antigone)-- has gone down significantly during the past one decade despite all efforts to protect it.
Latest findings of the forest department officials testify the fact that the State bird is steadily heading towards extinction.
The species of Saras which could be easily found in the entire State, mainly in central UP, are now rarely sighted.
"The sightings of Sarus has significantly declined over the past 10 to 12 years and this is greatly alarming for us as well as the people", said UP Chief Conservator of Forest (Southern Zone) Dr Ashwini Kumar.
Talking to HT Allahabad Live Dr Kumar said that though it was not possible to have a census of the birds as they hardly stay at one place, it has been found through a common observation by our teams that the population of Sarus has gone down in the past few years.
Expressing concern over the fall in the population of these birds, Dr Kumar said, with reduction in the number of Sarus, the ecological balance is also getting affected.
Dr Kumar said that these birds help save crops of farmers by eating harmful insects which damage the crops. In addition to this, they also help in pollination and seed dispersal. "Apart from this, these birds have many other uses of which we are not aware till date," he added.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Kumar said that these birds help save crops of farmers by eating harmful insects which damage the crops. In addition to this, they also help in pollination and seed dispersal. "Apart from this, these birds have many other uses of which we are not aware till date," he added.
{{/usCountry}}Stating the reason for decrease in the number of these birds, Dr Kumar said that due to shrinkage of wetlands in Uttar Pradesh the number of these birds have decreased to a considerable extent. "Besides, some other reasons which are also leading to the decline in their number are that often these birds eat poisonous substance like pesticides sprayed on the seeds at the time of sowing which in turn leads to their fatality," he pointed out.
Habitats of these birds are also disturbed by people residing in the area. Dr Kumar laid stress on generating awareness among people and the need to educate them about protection and conservation of Sarus which are facing a serious threat to their survival.
In a bid to protect and conserve the species, 'Sarus Protection Society' has been formed by Forest Department, UP, in May 2006. The office of the Society has been set up in Lucknow, said Dr Kumar.
The Society is running with a large number of objectives which include studying ecology of the Sarus in UP, to develop and conduct research in Sarus biology, habitat management and human aspects of Sarus conservation, to study the population trend of the species in the area, threats to the survival of the population of the species and wetlands that support it and prepare an action plan for the protection of Sarus and its habitat and execute it or get it executed through any competent agency.
The very first objective of the Society in this regard, is to generate awareness among people by holding mass awareness programmes. In addition to this, workshops will be held in schools and colleges of each district.
The Society is headed by Principal Secretary, Forest UP Government, said Dr Kumar.