We know that the word ‘Karma’ has a spiritual meaning. You
may wonder if the word “Trung trung karmo” has a similar meaning. Well – it is
the local name of the black-necked crane, that is believed to be a carrier of
the Dalai Lama. Hence, the sightings of this bird are considered to bring luck,
and often cause a stir….
These birds are found in the high-altitude marshes of Tibet
and Ladakh in the breeding season. They migrate to parts of Bhutan and
Arunachal Pradesh in winter. According to the IUCN, these birds have been
classified as a ‘vulnerable’ species.
The black necked cranes migrating to the Sangte and Chugh
valleys in Arunchal Pradesh feed on insects in the paddy fields. But due to
change in the variety of rice grown in these valleys in the past six to seven
years, the insects are not drawn to the paddy fields after the harvest. Experts
think this could be a reason for the decrease in the numbers of black necked cranes
visiting Arunachal Pradesh every year.
The introduction of new rice varieties has decreased the
number of people going hungry in these regions, but the sightings of the bird
are becoming rarer. Another instance of Karma – how food for one could be
another’s ………
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