International Journal of Zoological Investigations Vol. 3, No. 1, 11-14 (2017) ______________________________________________________________________________________ International Journal of Zoological Investigations Contents available at Journals Home Page: www.ijzi.net ISSN: 2454-3055 Sarus Crane: An Eternal Symbol of Marital Fidelity Ashok Kumar Verma1* and Shri Prakash2 1Department of Zoology, Govt. P.G. College, Saidabad Allahabad-221508, Uttar Pradesh, India 2Department of Zoology, K.A.P.G. College, Allahabad-211001, Uttar Pradesh, India *Corresponding Author Received: 5th March 2017 Accepted: 25th April 2017 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: Sarus crane is a resident species and found close to human habitation. This is a graceful and tallest flying bird. Pairing of the bird for life long and legendry marital devotion of the species has earned its global popularity. This water bird prefers open habitat like marsh areas, abundantly irrigated paddy fields, grass land and wetland. It has been categorised globally as 'vulnerable' by IUCN in its Red List because of its rapid population decline, which is projected to continue, as a result of widespread reductions in its wetland habitats. The cranes are well known for their faithfulness and living togetherness. The sarus crane pair is an eternal symbol of unconditional love, devotion and good fortune with high degree of marital fidelity as they mate for life. Keywords: Sarus crane pair, marital fidelity, vulnerable and conservation. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Introduction mate. This myth has been prevailing The name “Sarus” has its origin from around for centuries and Linnaeus was Sanskrit word- ‘sarasa’, which means ‘lake aware of this aspect when he named the species. bird’ and the dance of the sarus has undoubtedly led to the species getting the The graceful water bird sarus name. The skin of this bird was first prefers to live in association with humans. studied and described by Carolus Linnaeus They belong to phylum: Chordata, class: who named it as antigone in 1758. The Aves, order: Gruiformes and family: term ‘antigone’ refers to a female character Gruidae. There are three subspecies of in Greek philosophy, famous as a sarus cranes, the Indian sarus crane Grus rebellious daughter of the King Oedipus. antigone antigone, Eastern sarus crane There was a myth that cranes pair for life Grus antigone sharpii and the Australian and in the event of the death of one bird sarus crane Grus antigone gillae. Sundar the other dies beside the dead body of its and Choudhary (2003) published review on sarus crane while Archibald et al. Eternal symbol of marital fidelity (2003) gave the first comparative review of these three subspecies. The Indian Sarus The sarus is friendly to human beings and live close to them. Sarus is a social and Crane Grus antigone antigone (Linnaeus, omnivorous bird and they make 1758) is the world’s tallest flying and congregation at particular and pre-decided biggest flying water bird and is declared as sites, preferably in wetland area or State Bird by the Government of Uttar adjacent agricultural fields having Pradesh, India for its conservation. adequate food and water source. The Some prominent Indian workers family group occurs throughout year but associated with studies of different aspects during non-breeding season, cranes are seen in congregation for mate finding or of sarus cranes are Chauhan and Kumar pair formation. The congregation is not (2000), Sundar et al. (2000), Sundar only meant for mate finding activity and (2010), Jha et al. (2014), Prakash et al. safety but also prevented in mass from (2014), Ansari (2015), Verma et al. (2015), predating activities and harmful activities Verma et al. (2016a, 2016b, 2016c, 2016d, caused by aquatic animals, snakes and 2016e), Prakash et al. (2016a, 2016b, humans. These cranes perform social 2016c) and Verma (2016). displays to facilitate the pairing of unmated birds in which the male tries to As a result of widespread attract the female by means of a particular reductions in the extent and quality of type of dance. wetland habitats, exploitation and the effects of pollutants, the sarus crane species has suffered a rapid population decline within a few decades. Due to its declining number, Indian sarus crane has been now listed as globally threatened i.e. vulnerable avian species (Bird Life International, 2012). The vulnerable species are at high risk of endangerment (IUCN Red List). Increasing population trends In general, the population of sarus crane is Fig.1. Sarus crane pair in agro-field decreasing at global level but Verma et al. (symbol of marital fidelity) (2016c) found its increasing trends during Prakash et al. (2016c) reported their exploration from 2011 to 2014 many pairs and collected information around the Alwara lake of Kaushambi about their courtship, dance, mating, district of Uttar Pradesh (India). Verma et fertilization, nest construction, egg laying, al. (2016d) reported that ecological and hatching, juvenile care, growth of juvenile environmental condition of this lake is into young and rare occasions when a nicely supportive for the survival of crane accidently dies, the behaviour of its vulnerable Indian avian sarus crane, Grus partner. Interestingly, authors found that antigone antigone. the other partner stops feeding after the 12 death of its mate, starts crying in sorrow District, with special reference to Surajpur Wetland, National Capital Region, India and ultimately dies. They found that this International J. Plant Animal Environ. Sci. 5(3): behaviour is very unique as confirmed by 41-46. local villagers around Alwara lake of Archibald G W, Sundar K S G and Barzen J. (2003) Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh. A review of the three subspecies of Sarus Cranes Grus antigone. J. Ecological Society 16: Thus the initial myth that cranes 5-15. pair for life and in the event of the death of Bird Life International (2012) one partner, the other dies beside the dead http://www.birdlife.org/Grus antigone. body of its mate, has been confirmed by Chauhan R and Kumar D. (2000) A survey of Sarus local residents and Prakash et al. (2016c). cranes Grus antigone in Etawah and Mainpuri This myth was actually prevailing around district, Uttar Pradesh, India. Technical Report for centuries and in the event of the death Society for Conservation of Nature Etawah (UP), of one bird the other stops feeding, cries India. hard and ultimately dies, is now Jha KK and McKinley CR. (2014) Demography and established. Ecology of Indian Sarus Crane Grus antigone antigone in Uttar Pradesh, Northern India. Asian J. Conservation Biology 3(1): 8–18. Linnaeus Carolus (1758) Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis 1 (10th ed.). Stockholm: Laurentius Salvius. pp. [1–4], 1–824. Prakash S, Narain S and Kumar S. (2014) Conservation of the threatened Sarus Crane Grus antigone (Linnaeus, 1758) around Alwara Lake in Kaushambi District, Uttar Pradesh, Fig.2. Sarus crane pair in paddy field India. J. Threatened Taxa. 6: 5726-5730. (legendry for unconditional love) http://dx.doi.org/10.11609. Conclusion Prakash S and Verma AK. (2016a) Impact of awareness programme on growth and Thus, it is concluded that sarus crane pair conservation of vulnerable avian species Grus is made for each other and well represent antigone antigone in and around Alwara lake of themselves as eternal symbol of District Kaushambi (Uttar Pradesh), India. The unconditional love, devotion and good J. Zoology Studies 3(2):1-5. fortune with high degree of marital fidelity Prakash S. and Verma AK. (2016b) Studies on Use as they mate for life. They teach a moral of Local Medicinal Flora in Nest Building by Threatened Bird, Grus antigone antigone in and lesson to human beings and other around Alwara Lake of District Kaushambi creatures of globe for faithfulness and (U.P.), India. J. Applied Life Sciences International 5(3):1-7. living togetherness. Prakash S and Verma AK. (2016c) Marital fidelity and congregation of Indian sarus crane, Grus References antigone antigone in and around Alwara lake of Ansari NA. (2015) Population Composition and district Kaushambi (Uttar Pradesh), India. Distribution of Indian Sarus Crane Grus Intern. J. Biological Research 4(1):10-13. antigone antigone in Gautam Budh Nagar 13 Sundar KSG. (2010) Sarus cranes in Uttar Pradesh. Verma AK and Prakash S. (2016b) Selective Kat’s Eye 2: 2-4. behaviour of Indian Sarus Crane in choosing plant species for nest construction in and Sundar KSG and Choudhary BC. (2003) The Indian around Alwara lake of district Kaushambi Sarus Crane Grus a. antigone: a literature (U.P.), India. Intern. J. Zoology Research 6 (3): review. J. Ecol. Soc. (India) 16: 16–41. 1-6. Sundar KSG, Chaudhary BC and Kaur J. (2000) Verma AK and Prakash S. (2016c) Population Sarus crane count–2000. Wildlife Institute of dynamics of Indian Sarus Crane, Grus antigone India, Dehradun, India. antigone (Linnaeus, 1758) in and around The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version Alwara lake of Kaushambi district (Uttar 2015-4. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Pradesh), India. Intern. J. Biological Research Verma AK. (2016) The Sarus Crane Pair: Made for 4(2): 206-210. Each Other. Intern. J. Biological Sciences 7(2): Verma AK and Prakash S. (2016d) Alwara lake: 87-89. Good natural habitat for vulnerable avian Verma AK, Prakash S and Kumar S. (2015) Status species Grus antigone antigone (Linnaeus, and Ecology of Sarus Crane, Grus antigone 1758). J. Kalash Science 4 (1): 45-47. antigone in and around the Alwara Lake of Verma AK, Prakash S and Kumar S. (2016e) District Kaushambi (U.P.). Intern. J. Increasing population trends of Indian Sarus Environmental Sciences 6 (2): 331-335. Crane, Grus antigone antigone (Linnaeus, 1758) in Verma AK and Prakash S. (2016a) Demographic and around Alwara Lake of District Kaushambi studies of Indian Sarus Crane, Grus antigone (U.P.), India.