Population Status and Habitat Suitability of Sarus Crane (Grus antigone antigone, Linnaeus, 1758) in Banke District, Nepal

The Sarus Crane (Grus antigone antigone) is listed as vulnerable in the Red List of Threatened Species by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The study was conducted from 1 November 2015 to 30th January 2016 to access the population status and habitat suitability of Sarus Crane in Banke District. Direct observation through line transects survey methods were used to estimate the population status of Sarus crane. Geographic parameters of sighting points were recorded for determining habitat suitability. The conservation threats were analyzed by field, questionnaire surveys. The study areas contained 51 Sarus Cranes out of which 48 were adult and eight were chick. The Sarus Crane was found to use all habitats viz. farmlands, wetlands, grasslands. Farmlands and wetlands areas contained the highest number of Sarus Crane but preferred more farmlands for foraging followed by wetlands and grasslands. The frequency of the Sarus Cranes was highest in farmlands (62.74 %), followed by wetlands (31.37 %), and grasslands (5.88 %). The continued expansion of agricultural land and the loss of natural wetlands habitats are the most serious threats to the species. Population monitoring, further research, increasing awareness to local people, protection and restoration of wetland, discourage of using insecticides, and chemical fertilizer are of the ways to save the Crane in Banke district.