Captive Crane, its breeding, diet and diseases in N-WFP, Pakistan

A study was aimed to overlook on egg hatching, diet and diseases of Captive Cranes, in N-WFP, Pakistan. Field survey, questionnaire and interview with communities were the tools for the data collection. Total 165 and 85 camps were visited, respectively, in fall 2006 and spring, 2007. The numbers of hunters 1650 have 6600 Demoiselle and 3300 Common Captive Cranes in Bannu and Lakki. From 920 breeding pairs,900 eggs were obtained, from which only 640 were hatched. Among natural foods the pebbles were the most favourite food. Young ones of Cranes were fed on maize bread,eggs,wasp s larvae and grasshoppers by hunters. They faced the problems of development of feathers, trapping in mud and parasitic attack during their development. The Cranes suffered from many diseases; head tumor, influenza and stomach blockage were the most common. The hunters used traditional things,garlic, coriander and brown sugar with antibiotics for treatments of different diseases. Migratory cranes are found to be declining viewed by hunters in Southern districts of N-WFP. The present Knowledge of Common and Demoiselle Captive Cranes, may assist in their conservation.