Arunachal’s Sangty Valley Awaits Arrival of Rare Cranes

Itanagar, Oct 29 : The enchanting Sangty valley in Arunachal Pradesh is ready to host once again the endangered black-neck cranes as the winter approaches, but bird watchers are crossing their fingers over whether the winged guests from China and Tibet will arrive in depleted numbers.

The rare bird, locally known as Dhung Dhung Karma, sets up its winter home in the valley, situated at Dirang in West Kameng district, from November till February every year to escape the bitter cold in the Upper Himalayas.

Located at a distance of eight kilometres from Dirang, Sangty valley is known as a bird’s paradise, especially for the migratory variety which likes its friendly climatic condition.

The valley is credited with being the only wintering site for the black-neck crane in the Lower Himalayas, but the hapless birds are increasingly becoming the targets of hunting by tourists as well as a section of local people.

Records say that the exotic species used to visit two other places till 1970 – Apatani Plateau in Lower Subansiri district and Papu Valley in West Kameng district.

They abandoned the sites because of persistent harassment by local people who are unaware of the rare status of the birds and also rapid change in the land use pattern.

“In the absence of protection and conservation, these migratory birds are facing problems from tourists who chase them for taking photographs,’’ lamented Lham Thupten, a bird enthusiast from Sangty Village.

He said there were even instances of some black-necked cranes leaving the Sangty valley the same day as they arrived harried by constant badgering by tourists. Other inhabitants of the valley said last year only three black neck cranes had been spotted.

In 2005, official records say, nine migratory birds died in the valley after coming into contact with a live electric wire as several more such deaths were reported in the valley in the last few years.

Though the district administration had proposed to realign the electric wires passing through the valley, no initiative had been taken.

Local people, known as Monpa, see the arrival of the bird as harbinger of good harvest and happy times for them. Inhabiting the the West Kameng district, the Monpas are known for their disciplined and frugal lifestyle.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife and Bio-diversity) J L Singh said, ‘’Undertaking the proper conservation method like habitat enrichment and minimum human activitiy, the valley could attract more birds and thus become an important tourist destination.’’

The valley could also find a place in the wildlife tourist map of the world if proper care was taken, he observed.