Exclusive: Rare Black Necked Cranes Spotted At 14,000 Feet In Ladakh
NDTV
The Black Necked Crane is a protected and threatened species and is a unique migratory bird which breeds in the Himalayas.
The endangered Black Necked Crane was sighted by NDTV high in the Himalayan wetlands at Hanle in Ladakh at about 4,500 meters (14,800 feet) altitude. The Black Necked Crane is a protected and threatened species and is a unique migratory bird which breeds in the Himalayas.
Black Necked Cranes is the state bird of the Union Territory of Ladakh. They breed high in the Himalayan wetlands and the biggest threat to them is feral or free-ranging dogs. The Buddhists venerate Black Necked Cranes and their paintings can be seen in Buddhist monasteries.
These birds have an approximate height of 135 centimetres and a wing span of 62-64 centimetres, they are usually seen in pairs with chicks or small groups feeding in the wetlands of the River Indus in Ladakh. The grey-coloured body is topped with a black neck and has a red patch above the eye. They pair for life and usually rear 1-2 chicks a year.
According to the World Wide Fund for India, they form lifelong pairs, and breeding pairs return to the same nesting sites every year. They make a loud trumpeting sound.'
