Context: The Forest department has filed a case and issued a notice to an Uttar Pradesh man who rescued a Sarus crane and took care of it for a year.
- The Sarus crane is the tallest flying bird in the world.
- They are found mostly in pairs or small groups of 3 or 4.
- They mate for life with a single partner and its breeding season coincides with heavy rainfall in monsoon.
- They are known for their ability to live in association with humans.
- Diet – Omnivorous; they feed on fish and insects, as well as roots and plants.
- Habitat – Typically wades in shallow wetlands or in cropped agricultural areas.
- Distribution – Sarus crane has 3 disjunct populations – the Indian sub-continent, south-east Asia and northern Australia.
- Threats – Habitat loss and degradation due to draining the wetland and conversion of land for agriculture.
- Conservation
| Protection | Status |
| Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 | Schedule IV |
| IUCN | Vulnerable |
| CITES | Appendix II |
| CMS | Appendix II |
Sarus crane is the official State bird of Uttar Pradesh.
Possession of Wildlife in India
- No person is allowed to acquire or keep in his possession, custody or control any wildlife which is state property, under Section 39 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- If anyone does so they must report it to the nearest police station or the authorised officer within 48-hours of obtaining such possession.
- Burden of proof – Further, under Section 57 of the Act, if a person is found in possession, custody or control of any wildlife, the burden of proof for establishing that it is not illegal is on the person.
