About this stamp
International Crane Workshop, Bharatpur
The Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus), also known as ‘The Lily Birds’ in India and the ‘Snow Wreath’ in the Soviet Union, is among the most endangered birds globally, believed to have inhabited the planet for over a million years. With only about 200 individuals remaining, their population has dwindled due to the loss of wetlands in Asia and hunting.
Of the 15 Crane species remaining worldwide, five can be found in India, including the Common Crane, Delicate Demoiselle Crane, rare Black-necked Crane, non-migratory Indian Sarus, and the Siberian Crane. Every year, a small flock of Siberian Cranes migrates about 6,500 kilometers to winter in India’s Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur, while others migrate to China and Iran.
Characterized by its striking appearance, with black primary feathers and a distinctive patch of red on the head, the Siberian Crane boasts a wingspan that can exceed 8 feet. These birds mate for life and typically form family groups of two adults and one chick, often seen feeding on sedge tubers, their primary food source in India.
Efforts to study and conserve this rare bird have been underway, with research conducted in their Yakutian breeding grounds and along the river Ob in the Soviet Union. Captive breeding programs have been established in the Soviet Union, West Germany, and the International Crane Foundation in the USA, with the first-ever captive-bred Siberian Crane hatched in 1981.
Conservationists and scientists from 25 countries have convened at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, for the International Crane Workshop organized by the Government of Rajasthan, Department of Environment, Government of India, International Council for Bird Preservation, and International Crane Foundation. The workshop aims to formulate conservation and research programs to safeguard the Siberian Crane and other crane species.
In honor of this occasion, the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a special stamp commemorating the Siberian Crane and highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.
