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| Credit: International Crane Foundation |
The real India, as
Mahatma Gandhi once said, lies in her myriad villages and no worthwhile
development is possible on the national front without the active participation
of our rural brothers. Although most of our villages are still plagued by
social evils and insufficient infrastructure development, there is no doubt in
the fact that village communities have the potential to improve their living,
without much assistance from the government, when the people are inspired and
their infinite energies are directed in the right manner. The village of
Khichan in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan is a perfect example of how
community development and social activism at the rural level can help villagers
improve their living standards. The village, which has become popular among
bird watchers, achieved international recognition when it was featured in
Birding World magazine in an article titled, “Khichan - the Demoiselle crane
village."
Located in the pristine sands of the Thar desert, Khichan is just like
any other village located in the region. From the outside, there is not much in
the village that makes it stand apart from the other villages that surround it.
The economy is agrarian and the nearest town, Phalodi, located 4.5 km away, is
renowned for its salt industry. However, with the onset of winter, winged visitors
from plains and steppes of Eurasia and Mongolia come to this village, primarily
due to the tradition of feeding wild birds established here, a few decades ago.
The feeding programme, coupled with the presence of sand dunes and water ponds,
has made this place a favourite destination for the migratory Demoiselle cranes, while on their stay in India.
The Demoiselle cranes (Anthropides virgo) are the smallest and second
most abundant species of cranes in the world, with sightings being reported
from as many as 47 countries. They weigh about 2-3 kg with a height of 89 cm
and wing span of 155 -180 cm. Essentially grassland birds, the cranes have
plain bluish gray plumage and are omnivores. They mainly feed on plant
materials, insects, peanuts, beans and other cereal grains, and small animals.
Demoiselle cranes have to take one of the toughest migrations in the world. In
late August through September, they gather in flocks of up to 400 individuals
and prepare for their flight to their winter range. Along their arduous journey
they have to cross the Himalayan mountains to get to their over wintering
grounds in India, many die from fatigue, hunger and predation from birds such
as eagles. At their wintering grounds, Demoiselles have been observed flocking with
Common cranes, their combined totals reaching up to 20,000 individuals.
The annual feeding spectacle began when a local, belonging to the Jain
community, started offering grains to the feathered visitors or Kurjars, as
they are locally known here. Soon as the number of people looking after the
cranes grew, the feathered visitors seem to have been deeply impressed by the
'Khichan brand of hospitality'. This can be inferred from the fact that the
number of Demoiselles arriving in this place annually, grew from a few dozen in
the 1980s to well over 15,000 today. Although omnivores, villagers in the
Khichan, like in other parts of the Thar, venerate them for their perceived
vegetarian eating habits and for the norm of keeping a single life partner all
through their lifetime. In fact both of the above perceived behavioral patterns
of these cranes are consistent with the teachings of Mahavir, the founder of
Jainism.
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| Credit: International Crane Foundation |
With the donations coming primarily from the Jain community, the
villagers have constructed a rectangular enclosure 50x60 m at the edge of the
village, known locally as Chugga Ghar (Feeding Centre). The
children of the village chip in their bit and it is their duty to spread the
grains before the flocks of cranes arrive for their breakfast session of about
90 min. After feeding, the cranes, in large congregations, are seen at some of
the water bodies and sand dunes to the north of Khichan. They face the sun, their
tie-like black chest feathers contrasting with the blue winter sky. A short
while later they depart in different directions in small family flocks in a
disciplined order led by the female, followed closely by two young ones with
the male forming the rear guard. Again, during mid-day, they assemble for a
drink, followed by an occasional bath, and a second feed. Acrobatic exhibition
of mutual affection between couples is also seen. They roost in faraway
agriculture fields and return to the same water bodies next day, early in the
morning. As per the report of the International crane Foundation:
"All cranes engage in dancing, which includes various
behaviors
such as bowing, jumping, running, stick or grass tossing, and wing
flapping.
Dancing can occur at any age and is commonly associated with
courtship, however,
The people of this
village are very protective of their annual visitors. This fact comes into
prominence from the story of Sevaram Mallu Parhivar, a local contractor. Seeing
that a large number of birds were getting electrocuted, he filed a complaint
with the District Administration, asking for placing the electric transmission
lines underground. As the DC ignored his repeated complaints, he approached the
High Court against the State Electricity Board. However, inspite of his noble
intentions, the Court imposed a fine of Rs. 4 lakhs on him. But with the help
of the State Forest Department, Sevaram filed an appeal in the High Court and
eventually won the case.
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| Credit: International Crane Foundation |
In fact such is the love and admiration of the Demoiselles that
they have become a part of the local tradition and culture. They are an
integral part of the desert love lore about Marwari migrants of yore who were
forced to live separately from their loved ones due to compulsions of trade.
Fussy eaters amongst the kids are known as 'Kurjars' and engaged girls are
fondly referred to as 'Kurjaris'. The birds are revered as messengers of God
and are believed to yield magical powers.
The place is soon developing into a magnet for tourists. A large
number of travelers, both local and international, come to Khichan to see and
study these migratory birds from such close range and in such large numbers.
Their flights, in the setting of the conventional mansions (some of them are
heritage buildings being converted to tourist lodges) of the village, present
brilliant photo-ops. The Marwar Crane Foundation has pledged financial support
to the feeding program. A director of the International Crane Foundation has
visited Khichan. This foundation is also supporting the efforts of Marwar Crane
Foundation in feeding the cranes. The government, for a change, has been quick
enough to realize the potential of this place as a popular tourist attraction,
thanks to the cranes and peculiar indigenous architecture. As such, the State
government has given heritage status to the village and it has also got a
package of Rs. 75 lakhs from the Union government in the last budget.
In recent times, the cranes have been disturbed by dogs and
passing villagers. To add to the problems, illegal encroachments have developed
over the years, much to the consternation of bird watching vacation tourists.
There has been also an effort to move the prevailing feeding area as it has
become too crowded but it has not yet been implemented. Also, the feeding
program has led to a drastic increase in the number of crows, pigeons and rats
in the village, which has increased the vulnerability to diseases. Besides, a
significant number of the people here feel that it would be better if the money
was spent on the poor and the needy, rather than the migratory birds.
Although there will be skeptics, the village of Khichan is a
testimonial to the fact that man and nature can co-exist peacefully. The
villagers here have realized the fact that their own survival is inter-linked
with that of their feathered friends. It is instances like this that bring to
light, the amount of knowledge that is present in the interiors of India, and
make us proud to be Indians.
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| Credit: International Crane Foundation |
Special Thanks to : Vishwanath Bhat
SOURCES
Original: Anthropoides virgo at Twycros Zoo
The end was beautiful...make us proud to be Indians...
ReplyDeleteI wish this article could publish on the front page of the "The Sydney Morning Herald"...
I love the variety your blog offers, a panorama of issues which matter...
Nice Title as well.
Keep Posting!