Winged-visitors to Sangty Valley in Arunachal on the decline

Itanagar, Nov 16 (UNI) The enchanting Sangty Valley at Dirang under Arunachal's West Kameng district is no more an attractive destination for the endangered Black Neck Cranes as the number of the avian visitors from the neighbouring countries like China and Tibet is on the decline.

The beautiful birds, locally known as 'Dhung Dhung Karma', usually visit the valley in the last part of October and stay till February.

However, not a single Black Neck Crane was spotted this year, while the valley was visited by a lone bird last year, thereby reflecting a marked decline in the trend.

The villagers of Sangty Village attributed the cause responsible for the lesser number of winged-visitors in the valley to the mounting number of tourists each year. '' The birds are usually shy and like to stay without being disturbed. Every year hundreds of bird-lovers visit the valley to have a glimpse of the birds. This is the main factor behind the decline, '' reasoned Yeshi Csewang of Sangty Village.

'' We never disturb them. They are the part of our lives,'' another villager Nima Norbu said.

The birds were facing problems from the picnickers and visitors as they chase them for photography, he said adding the number of the migratory birds was more when a lesser count of tourists frequented the valley a few years back .

According to Dirang Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Nyabin Ete, the reason for the decline in the trend was the non-availability of food grains, besides other environmental factors.

However, he said there was still time till February for the winged-visitors to arrive in the valley.

Located at a distance of eight kilometers from Dirang, Sangty Valley is known as a bird's paradise, especially for the migratory birds.

With suitable climatic conditions and other environmental features, the valley attracts a large variety of winged creatures and has the distinction of being the only wintering site for rare species in India.

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