Of the 15 species of cranes found in the world today, six are found in India and the Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) is the only resident species.  Over their entire distribution range, Sarus Cranes utilize wetlands, natural and manmade, and are well known for their ability to live in association with habitation (Gole 1989, Archibald & Meine 1996).  In India, people have attributed religious and cultural values to them, and protect Sarus and other cranes.  The cranes have been documented right from historical times to pair for life (Ali 1927) and this feature has made them a symbol of fertility in parts of north India.  There are three extant sub-species of Sarus Crane in the World namely the Eastern Sarus Crane, the Australian Sarus Crane and the Indian Sarus Crane.

Sarus Cranes need no introduction to most people from northern India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh.  The Sarus is the state bird of Uttar Pradesh.  They have always been part of the agricultural landscape and have been known to live in harmony with farmers.  The locals have attributed several religious qualities to the bird due to their habitat of pairing for life – when one bird dies, the other is known to die in grief.  Even in the Ramayana, the Sarus is depicted as the “krauncha”. However, this once abundant beautiful bird species in now threatened.  The post-independence rise of human population, the ensuing green revolution, and associated developmental activities served to spell doom for Sarus Cranes and several other birds associated with Indian Wetlands.  Development brought about changes in landscape and in many cases, irrevocably converted wetlands into less natural features such as agriculture field and industries.  For a long time, the impact this change had no fauna was not noticed.  In the past decade, however, it has come to fore that these changes may not have been good for the Sarus and other birds.

The Sarus Crane is the only resident breeding crane in India and southeast Asia, and is the world’s tallest flying bird.  Three subspecies are recognized, with a total estimated population of between 13,500 and 15,500.  The Indian Sarus Crane (G.a. antigone) is still common in northern India, but has been extirpated from large portions of its historic range and continues to decline in areas where it still exists.  The Indian Sarus Crane has proven to be highly adaptable in the face of high human population pressures.  The birds are able to use even small wetlands if they are not persecuted or heavily disturbed.  Breeding pairs and families with pre-fledged chicks are typically dispersed among scattered natural and artificial wetlands.  Adult pairs will use drier habitats such as cultivated and fallow fields. 

Loss and degradation of wetlands – due to agricultural expansion, industrial development, river basin development, pollution, heavy use of pesticides, and other factors – are the most significant threats to the species, especially in India.  In many areas, high human population pressures compound these threats by increasing the level of disturbance.  Local traditions and religious beliefs have protected the species in many parts of its range, especially northern India, Nepal’s western Tarai, and Vietnam.  The species has been the focus of increased conservation activity in recent years.

The Sarus Cranes formerly occurred across the Indian subcontinent, from the province of Sindh in Pakistan in west to Bangladesh in the east, throughout the Gangetic plain, and in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Deccan Plateau of south-central India.  They were common in the dry season in Pakistan until the 1960s (Gole 1989a, 1989b).  In Nepal, they have been extirpated from the eastern half of the Tarai lowlands (Suwal 1995). Although still common in India, where the association between people and Sarus Cranes is ancient and close, they are increasingly restricted to regions where traditional land and water management practices are maintained (P. Gole pers. comm..). 

Sarus Cranes in India are known to be well distributed in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh with small population in Haryana and Maharashtra.  The Sarus is also reported from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.  In all the state, the Sarus Crane has suffered due to changing land use patterns that have degraded the natural landscape, particularly natural wetlands (Meine and Archibald 1996).   This may be the main reason behind the apparent decline in their distribution range (Murray 1890, Ali and Ripley 1980, Johnsgard 1983, Gole 1989, Archibald and Meine 1996). 

The Sarus is considered internationally threatened and is classified as Endangered under the revised IUCN Red List Categories.  It is also in Appendix II of the CITES Convention and is protected by the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 under Schedule IV.