Breeding of Captive Cranes in the Kurram Valley, NWFP

 

Birds fascinate people while also providing food, economic and leisure activities. Species, such as cranes have been an integral part of certain human cultures for a long time.

With the advent of the 21st century a more conscious effort to preserve and sustain this precious bird specie is observed. One such example is the promotion of an innovative concept of captive breeding approach for cranes conservation world-wide.

Believing strongly in captive breeding as a tool for conservation, the PWP plans to promote breeding of the captive cranes in the southern parts of North West Frontier Province (NWFP).. More specifically, the Programme intends to target communities of Marwat, Bannuchi and Wazir of Lakki and Bannu districts in the south of NWFP, where crane hunting tradition still prevails. During the spring and fall migration seasons of cranes the local hunters camp along the river side to lay down the traps with their trained decoys.

The PWP with support of the NWFP Wildlife Department conducted a survey in the southern districts of the NWFP during …2007. The objective of the survey was to identify local crane breeders, record lessons learnt and collect data to develop a robust strategy for training local crane breeders.

According to an estimate, these communities have around 12,000 demoiselle and Eurasian cranes in their households (Khan 2004). These cranes are known to have their wintering and breeding grounds in the comparatively mild-temperate areas of India and Central Asia respectivley. They have now however, adapted themselves to the local conditions where the maximum temperature reaches around 50C0.

In the natural environment both Eurasian and demoiselle cranes remain loyal to their mates for life. While in captive breeding they tend to form new pairs after few years of captivity and start breeding again. Hence, scientifically managed captive breeding, is mutually beneficial to the local communities and to the cranes' sustainability.

Results of the survey conducted in the districts of Bannu, Lakki and adjacent tribal areas revealed that about 241 crane-keepers have around 340 breeding pairs of demoiselle cranes, while 40 crane-keepers have about 50 breeding pairs of Eurasian cranes. Out of these, about a total of 48 percent of the captive demoiselle and Eurasian cranes breed. The survey further showed that the hatching success rate recorded for demoiselle cranes was about 68 percent (478 eggs) and for Eurasian crane was about 40 percent (42 eggs).

The result indicates that crane chicks are delicate and are more prone to various threats including diseases, depredation and accidents during the first couple of months of their development. Therefore, their enhanced survival rate would depend on care in captivity during the early stages of their growth.
There are several ways to improve and promote crane breeding in the areas where communities keep cranes as a part of their traditional and social norms. These include multiple clutching, artificial insemination and improved crane husbandry.

The PWP survey found that crane husbandry and disease management were poor in the area. But it was encouraging to note that about 93 percent of crane breeders had rudimentary knowledge about the multiple clutching techniques. However, only seventeen percent of the total crane breeders having the technical knowledge and capacity were practicing this technique.

Multiple clutching is a process where eggs of cranes are hatched through the use of broody hens or incubators. Studies have shown in past that this process if managed properly can increase crane population multi-folds.

The survey also suggests that education and awareness can play a vital role in changing the existing mind set of local communities from unsustainable traditional practices to more conscious conservation of this important specie.

With the current rate of live trapping it has been estimated that within the next 60 years the migrating demoiselle and Eurasian cranes population would become extinct in the Kurram Valley (Khan 2004). The preliminary findings reinforced by the current survey have compelled the PWP to initiate a dedicated programme for cranes conservation in Pakistan.

In this connection the PWP has launched a collaborative initiative with the Cracid Breeding and Conservation Centre (CBCC) in Belgium. As part of this programme initially, two officers from the NWFP Wildlife Department will be trained in husbandry and captive breeding techniques of cranes at the center. In doing so, the PWP has managed to establish a trend for enhancing their local capacities, of the field professionals.