The Eleventh Annual Sarus Crane Count was conducted on June 21, coinciding with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year recording a total of 1576 Sarus Cranes in 2026-27.

While it marked a small increase from the 1,477 count last year, the report says it has marked a significant increase of 215 per cent since 2015-16.

The summer solstice aligns with the period when most wetlands and marshes dry up, leading to large congregations of Sarus Cranes at the remaining perennial water bodies. This provides a unique opportunity to accurately assess the population.

Counting of Indian Sarus Crane

The Indian Sarus Crane, the world’s tallest flying bird and classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, traditionally inhabits wetlands and shares its habitat with humans.