Abstract:
The crane is a migrant bird species with long legs, a long neck, and a long bill. They often wade in shallow waters, usually in rivers, wetlands, lakes, and paddy fields. At landscape level, floral vegetation structure, and trophic level, they significantly alter ecosystem functions. In spite of human intervention, the population of these bird species is declining at an alarming rate. In order to understand what types of threats these marvelous birds face due to anthropogenic activities, this study assessed the impacts of traditional hunting practices on the demoiselle crane (anthropoids virgo) population in district Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Total 5 samples of Demoiselle crane were collected from hunters and brought to the laboratory to check the occurrence of bacterial and other parasitic diseases. Neither E. coli bacteria nor other harmful bacteria inside were detected in the intestine and blood of the Demoiselle crane bird. In addition, it was founded that Demoiselle care were hunted in Gambila, Kwashi, Baran Dame, and Kurram River site. Moreover, the perceptions of hunters revealed that, approximately 33.0% used Gambila site,27.0% Kwashi site, 21.0% Baran Dame site and 19.0% Kurram River site for Demoiselle crane hunting. However, the choice of hunting sites depends on the occupancy of local tribes in a particular area, i.e., Gambila (33%), WazirsKwashi (27.0%), and Banochi Kurram River (19%) and Baran Dame (21.0%)respectively. The perceptions of the respondents revealed also demonstrated that Demoiselle cranes in Bannu district face numerous threats, including uncontrolled hunting (67.0%), shortages of aquatic habitat due to water diversion and abstraction for agriculture (15.0%), pollution of water (10.0%)and habitat degradation (8.0%) as a result of land conversion (i.e., agriculture fields). Likewise, demoiselle cranes have been hunted extensively by calling and weapon hunting (each; 80.0%), bait and lure (70.0%), net trapping (70.0%), and battni and snaring (each; 60.0%). In the calling method, hunters used tamed crane 80.0%, netting 15.0%, and guns 5.0% to attract Demoiselle cranes. In gun hunting, 80.0% use weapons, 15.0% attract tame birds for hunting, and 5.0%capture birds with nets. A decline of population trend was observed in the study area due to hunting (70.0%), illegal trade (30.0%), pet birds (25.0%), and habitat degradation (30.0%). In addition, illegal trade in Demoiselle cranes has contributed significantly to the population decline because they have beentrapped them to sold in the market and kept as pets in homes. The literacy rate and profession of the respondents in the study area varied. Overall, the outcomes indicate that unrestrained hunting activities, driven by socio-cultural and economic factors, have contributed to a decline in the species' population, highlighting the need for urgent conservation measures. This research emphasizes the imperative of adopting a holistic approach to conserve the Demoiselle Crane population in District Bannu.
Page(s):
58-59
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: 1st International Conference on "Recent Advances in Green Biotechnology and Climate Resilience", September 15-16, 2025, Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Year: 2025