Sarus crane population surges in UP: 19,918 counted in 2024 state-wide summer census.

Lucknow : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, The population of the state bird, the Sarus crane, is on the rise in Uttar Pradesh, thanks to the efforts of  Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. According to the latest summer census conducted on June 20-21, 2024, this year’s count revealed presence of a total of 19,918 sarus cranes, marking an increase of 396 from the previous year.

The state-wide census highlighted that the Etawah Forest Division recorded the highest number of sarus cranes with 3,289. Additionally, ten forest divisions reported sarus populations exceeding 500. Notably, Mau Forest Division spotted six Sarus cranes for the first time in a decade. This year’s summer census saw the participation of 10,000 citizens across the state.

*Steady increase in sarus population from 2021 to 2024*

CM Yogi’s commitment to wildlife and environmental conservation has always been evident. Under his leadership, special emphasis has been placed on the protection of animals and birds after he assumed office in 2017. The sarus crane count has shown a consistent upward trend over the years: from 17,329 in 2021 to 19,188 in 2022, 19,522 in 2023, and reaching 19,918 in 2024. This year alone, the Sarus population increased by 396 compared to last year, totaling an increase of 2,589 cranes from 2021 to 2024.

*Etawah leads with highest sarus count*

The 2024 summer census revealed presence of more than 500 sarus cranes in 10 divisions. The highest number was recorded in the Etawah Forest Division with 3,289 cranes. Other divisions with notable counts include Mainpuri (2,945), Shahjahanpur (1,212), Auraiya (1,202), Kannauj (786), Hardoi (735), Sant Kabir Nagar (717), Kanpur Dehat (709), Gorakhpur (675), and Siddharth Nagar (673).

*Number ofsarus cranes ranged from 100 to 500 In 27 forest divisions*

In 27 forest divisions, the number of sarus cranes was between 100 and 500. These included Raebareli with 428, Sitapur with 427, Unnao with 426, Bareilly with 348, Sohagi Barwa with 339, Lakhimpur with 306, Banda with 261, Barabanki with 257, Firozabad with 239, South Kheri with 209, Aligarh and Amethi with 194 each, Basti with 186, Gautam Buddha Nagar with 171, Mathura with 166, Bijnor Social Forestry with 143, Gonda with 142, Etah with 138, Sultanpur with 137, Bahraich with 135, Farrukhabad with 134, Kanpur Nagar with 133, National Chambal Sanctuary with 119, Badaun with 116, Fatehpur with 103, and Chitrakoot and Awadh forest divisions with 102 each.

*Six cranes were seen in Mau for the first time in 10 years*

Six cranes were seen in Mau for the first time in the last 10 years. Besides, there were 31 forest divisions where less than 100 cranes were found including 99 in Shravasti, 95 in Kasganj, 94 in Pilibhit Social Forestry, 86 in Hamirpur, 81 in Sohelwa, 80 in Ambedkar Nagar, 78 in Ayodhya, 75 in Hathras, 55 in Agra, 54 in Kaushambi and North Kheri, 53 in Pratapgarh, 51 in Meerut, 50 in Kushinagar, 44 in Bulandshahr, 42 in Moradabad, 36 in Katarniaghat, 34 in Deoria, 31 in Lalitpur, 20 in Muzaffarnagar, 18-18 in Mahoba, Prayagraj and Najibabad, 12 in Sambhal, 11-11 in Azamgarh and Jaunpur, six each in Mau and Rampur, four in Orai and two each in Hapur and Palia-Kheri