BNHS sterilises over 2,950 dogs to save black-necked cranes and wildlife in Ladakh

BNHS started this initiative in 2022 with the Army, the Animal Husbandry Department, and the Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment, it said in a release.

Free-ranging dogs have been found killing black-necked crane chicks in the Alpine Wetlands of Ladakh, and they also do not allow the birds to settle in one place for nesting, BNHS said in a release.

The species is listed as vulnerable, with a world population of 11,000-12,000, most of which are found on the Tibetan Plateau. Fewer than 100 black-necked cranes, the state bird of Ladakh, survive in India, the release said.

The breeding sites in Ladakh include the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, especially the wetlands of Hanle, Tso Kar, Nyoma, and nearby marshes, with an extended population in the Suru Valley.

Black-necked cranes are regarded as sacred birds and symbols of peace, purity and good fortune. Their arrival in spring is traditionally viewed as a sign of renewal and the beginning of the agricultural season. Local communities generally avoid disturbing nesting cranes, reflecting a long tradition of coexistence.

In Changthang, local people, monasteries and conservation organisations often work together to protect breeding wetlands, said the release.

However, the birds continue to face a range of threats, including human settlements in areas surrounding wetlands, expansion of linear infrastructure, growing tourism activities, habitat degradation, and the impacts of climate change, it said.

Free-ranging dogs have emerged as a significant conservation concern. Dogs are known to disturb nesting birds, prey upon eggs and chicks, and alter breeding behaviour, thereby reducing reproductive success, the release said.

The rising population of free-ranging dogs in many parts of Ladakh is closely linked to the availability of "anthropogenic" food subsidies, particularly unmanaged food waste and kitchen refuse generated from settlements, tourist activities, and institutional establishments, it said.

These pressures are affecting breeding success, habitat quality, and the long-term survival of the species, according to BNHS.

"To address this serious threat, BNHS, jointly with the Army, the Animal Husbandry Department, and the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, sterilised more than 2,950 free-ranging dogs in breeding areas of black-necked cranes," the release said.

Efforts are also underway to reduce the availability of anthropogenic food subsidies. A pilot waste-management project has been initiated at selected Army outposts to improve the handling and disposal of food and kitchen waste, thereby limiting access to food resources that sustain free-ranging dog populations, it said.

Nearly 1,000 armed forces personnel have also been trained in biodiversity conservation and wildlife management, it said.

BNHS director Kishor Rithe said that during the annual population monitoring conducted in early June 2026, a total of 19 pairs of the birds were recorded across the wetlands of Ladakh.

Dr Muhammad Raza, a BNHS scientist working in Ladakh, said that several sites could not be surveyed due to logistical challenges and limited accessibility. "Therefore, the actual number of pairs is expected to be slightly higher, making the current estimate a conservative figure," he said.