Over 2,950 dogs sterilised to save Black-necked Cranes and wildlife in Ladakh

Over 2,950 free-ranging dogs (FRDs) were sterilised with the aim of saving Black-necked Cranes (BNC) and boosting wildlife tourism-based livelihoods in Ladakh under the initiative of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) along with the Indian Army, the Animal Husbandry Department, and the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment. 

The initiative started in 2022 to conserve BNC chicks, after the wildlife expert noticed that FRDs have been killing them in the Alpine Wetlands of Ladakh and preventing BNCs from settling down in one place for nesting. 

BNC, globally listed as “vulnerable”, is a cultural symbol and state Bird of Ladakh, but fewer than 100 survive in India, while the estimated world population is roughly 11,000–12,000 individuals, most of which occur on the Tibetan Plateau. They are distributed across four range countries—India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China.

According to BNHS authorities, 110–130 individuals are recorded annually, including 20–25 breeding pairs, depending on the year. The main breeding sites include the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, the wetlands of Hanle, Tso Kar, Nyoma, and nearby marshes, with an extended population in the Suru Valley. “During the annual population monitoring conducted in early June 2026, a total of 19 pairs of BNC were recorded across the wetlands of Ladakh,” said Kishor Rithe, Director of BNHS. 

However, BNHS scientist Dr Muhammad Raza, working in Ladakh, informed that the actual number of pairs is expected to be slightly higher, saying, “Due to logistical challenges and limited accessibility, several sites could not be surveyed. BNHS is taking necessary measures to get a clear picture of the breeding population of BNC in Ladakh.”

Efforts under the initiative

BNC has been facing threats across its breeding habitats due to increased human use of areas surrounding wetlands, expansion of linear infrastructure, habitat degradation, FRDs, and the impacts of climate change.

To address disturbance to nesting birds at the hands of FRDs, BNHS led the initiative, which also includes efforts to reduce the availability of anthropogenic food subsidies. A pilot waste-management project has been initiated at selected Indian Army outposts to improve the handling and disposal of food and kitchen waste, thereby limiting access to food resources that sustain FRD populations.

“By integrating waste management with sterilisation efforts, the programme seeks to provide a long-term and sustainable approach to reducing dog-related threats in ecologically sensitive wetland landscapes,” said a BHNS authority. 

Additionally, capacity-building and awareness programmes have been launched, and 1,000 armed forces personnel have been trained in biodiversity conservation and wildlife management.