Context (PIB): The Black Necked Crane assessment was recently carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India and the Zoological Survey of India.
Black-necked crane is a medium-sized crane that is native to Asia and endemic to Tibetan Plateau.
It is a large, wading bird with long legs and neck. Despite their lack of webbed feet, they are excellent swimmers.
It is the only exclusively alpine species among the 15 species of cranes in the world.
This species is found in India, China and Bhutan and breeds in high altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau at elevations.
A small wintering population is also found in Sangti and Zimithang valleys of Arunachal Pradesh.
Diet: Black-necked cranes are omnivorous, and they enjoy eating plant roots, tubers, snails, shrimp, and other small vertebrates and invertebrates.
Conservation Status: IUCN:Near Threatened| WPA, 1972:Schedule I| CITES:Appendix I
The bird is revered by the Monpa Community (major Buddhist ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh) as an embodiment of the sixth Dalai Lama (Tsangyang Gyatso).