Black Necked Crane Festival 2000

School children and volunteer dancers perform for the large crowd.
Copyright © RSPN

Undeterred by the cold wind and dust, crowds gathered at the Phobjikha school ground to participate in the third annual Black Necked Crane Festival. Some 5000 people, mostly villagers from Phobjikha and neighboring villages, tourists and volunteers, took part in the celebrations. Only three years since its inception, the festival has grown both in size and momentum. The festival has been a platform for increasing public awareness and involvement in the conservation of the Black Necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis). School children and volunteers preformed dances, organized art competitions and games at the festival. Local women weavers trained under the WWF-Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) Women in Environment project were also given a chance to exhibit their work. "WWF is encouraged by the active role that the Phobjikha community has taken in the conservation of Black Necked Cranes.

Kinzang Namgay, WWF Bhutan Country Representative said. "We hope that with this committed partnership we will be able to fulfill our goals of sustainable development and conservation in the valley." This year the festival was organized by the Phobhjikha Conservation Area (PCAP) committee. The PCAP committee comprising mainly of Phobjikha residents was introduced to involve locals in the decision making process and development of the valley. PCAP is a component of RSPN's Integrated conservation development program (ICDP) in Phobjikha valley. RSPN with assistance from WWF has been working closely with the PCAP committee on ways to align development and environmental conservation goals in the valley.

This year a fee of US$ 50.00 was charged to tourist attending the festival while Bhutanese and expatriates were charged a fee of Nu. 50.00. Proceeds from the festival will be used by the PCAP committee for various ICDP activities. Residents of Phobjikha have sellessly foregone electricfication of their homes due to the threat transmission lines posed to the Blacked Necked Cranes. WWF explored the possibility of building a small pico-hydel project with under ground transmission lines to provide electricity in parts of the valley. Construction of the hydel project has been started and is scheduled to be completed in March. The number of Black Necked Cranes in Phobjikha has been increasing every year with a record of 238 cranes last year. The total number of birds worldwide is between 5000 and 6000 individuals.
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Bending over an unfinished kira, her skilled fingers moving deftly Genchu had almost completed weaving her third kira. "I use most of the money from my weavings to buy more raw materials", she said barely looking up from her work. "The rest i use to help supplement my family's income". Genchu is one of the 26 women trained in weaving traditional Bhutanese textiles under the WWF-RSPN "Women in Environment" Project.

WWF provided RSPN with a seed fund of Nu.504,000 to establish a micro credit scheme to provide women in Phobjikha valley with the means to set up weaving equipment and procure raw materials. Two experienced weavers from Pemagatshel district were also hired to conduct weaving training for two years. "The rural women community in Bhutan has the potential of becoming a significant force in management of natural resources," said Jigme Tobgay, Conservation and Development Coordinator of RSPN.

The first batch of weavers completed their training in November 1999. Their products were exhibited at the 1999 Annual Black Necked Crane Festival. Some of their products are also sold in handicraft stores in Thimphu. Providing alternative livelihood generating activities such as these help reduce pressure on natural resources which aredetrimental to the conservation of the endangered Black Necked Cranes and other wildlife found in the valley. Given the growing aspirations and needs of the local community, the microcredit scheme is to be expanded to support other activities such as vegetable farming, poultry, piggery and potato cultivation. It will also be used to provide training to local communities in various skills such as tailoring, haircutting, plumbing, and knitting.
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While conducting a WWF/NCD sponsored wildlife survey in the ThrumshingLa National Park, surveyors discovered remains of what is believed to be that of the extinct deer species known as the Bhutan Shou. The Bhutan Shou was last seen sometime in the 1800's to early 1900's. "Its too early to say whether the dead deer could have been the extinct Bhutanese Shou", Dr. Sangay Wangchuk, Joint Director of Nature Conservation Division said. "We have so far ruled out the possibility that the dead deer was from the sambar species based on the unicolor, antlers, piglets and vocal repertoire." With little published descriptions of the species experts are finding it difficult to confirm the identity of the deer.

Experts from NCD are studying the carcass for difference in jaw formation, pillage and other physical difference as well as cross checking their findings with international deer experts. The NCD officials are still in the process of carrying out more research and have been trying to narrow down the various species in Bhutan to confirm the species of the dead deer. According to Dr. Sangay Wangchuk one way of identifying species of the dead deer would be through finger printing and DNA testing. However, another deer of the same species as the dead deer has to be found to obtain the sample necessary for the tests.

"While the possibilities that the dead deer could be the once extinct species resurfacing in the Bhutanese forest has not been ruled out it cannot be fully confirmed until all the studies are over," said Dr. Sangay Wangchuk."If the carcass was from the Bhutanese shou, it will be a great thing for Bhutan because there is the possibility that there may be more of them around. Such a finding would mean great attraction for conservation as there would be many interested people. It would really be a milestone achievement for Bhutan". He also mentioned that a similar discovery of the Giant Mujak (an extinct deer species) in Vietnam had caused a stir in global conservation circle.

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