Question

Where do we normally spot the Siberian crane in winter in India?
A. Ranthambore Sanctuary
B. Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary
C. Sasangir Sanctuary
D. Dachigam National Park

Answer 1

Hint:The Siberian cranes are also known as the Siberian White Crane or the Snow Crane and among the cranes, they make the longest distance migrations.

Complete answer:The Siberian White Crane is a bird of the Gruidae family. They are distinctive among the cranes, adults are nearly snowy white except for their black primary feathers that are visible when they fly and they have two breeding populations in the Arctic Tundra and the eastern part of Russia. The eastern populations migrate during winter to China while the western populations migrate to Iran and formerly they used to migrate to Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. The Bharatpur Sanctuary is now known as the Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary or the Keoladeo National Park.

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note: The status of this crane is critical and the world population is estimated to be around 3200-4000, and most of them belong to the Eastern Breeding population. Of the 15 species of cranes, this one is the most threatened one. The western population was left with only four birds in 2002 and was even thought to have been extinct when one bird was located in Iran in the year 2010. Historic records from India suggest a wider winter distribution in the past including records from Gujarat, New Delhi, and even as far as east Bihar.