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4September 2021.
Introduction:
Ladakh adopted two endangered species,snow leopard and black –necked crane as its State animal and State bird respectively on September 1, 2021.
Highlights:
- Ladakh adopted these species two years after it was separate Union created as a separate Union Territory (UT) from the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
- Snow leopard and Black –necked crane are the designated State animal and State bird respectively from the date of issue of the notification.
About Black-Necked Crane
- Black –necked crane are scientifically known as Grus nigricollis.
- It is a medium-sized crane found in Asia.
- It breeds on the Tibetan Plateau and remote parts of India & Bhutan.
- The crane is 139 cm long with a wingspan of 235 cm and weighs of 5.5 kg.
- It is whitish-grey in colour along with a black head, red crown patch, white patch to the rear of eye, black upper neck & legs. Some of its populations are known to make seasonal movements.
- It is respected in Buddhist traditions and is culturally protected in much of its range.
- In India, Black-necked crane are only found in Ladakh region.
- It was the State bird of J&K before it was made a UT in 2019. It is an endangered species.
About Snow leopard
- Snow leopard is scientifically called as Panthera uncia.
- It is a felid of genus Panthera and is native to the mountain ranges in Central and South Asia.
- It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List as its global population is lesser than 10,000 mature individuals.
- It is expected to decline by 10% by 2040. Poaching and habitat destruction are the biggest threat to them.