Sunday, June 8, 2025
  • Contact Us
  • About BBS
  • Privacy & Policy
ENG
DZO
BBSCL Logo
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Audience Survey Report
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule
Radio Live
No Result
View All Result
BBSCL logo
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Audience Survey Report
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule
No Result
View All Result
BBSCL logo
Radio LIVE

Annual Black-Necked Crane festival- a win-win situation

November 18, 2019
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
0
SHARES
5
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Annual Black-Necked Crane festival in Gangtey and Phobjikha valley in Wangdue Phodrang is proving to be a successful medium in creating awareness among the locals on the importance of protecting cranes.

Over the years, the festival has also strengthened the bond between the bird and the locals.

The festival is being held annually on 11th November to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. It is an occasion for the locals to celebrate the endangered bird species’ arrival to its winter habitat.

The highlight of the festival is a Black-Necked crane dance performed by the students of Betta Primary School in Wangdue Phodrang. The dance features the Black-Necked crane’s life.

Gangtey-Phobji valley is considered the largest winter habitat of Black-necked Cranes in the country. The valley is receiving an increasing number of cranes over the years. Some 500 Black-Necked cranes came to the valley between October 2017 and February 2018. The locals attribute this to the improved bonding between the people in the community and the bird species ever since the start of the festival in the valley.

“For instance, when the cranes come to our fields looking for foods after the harvest, the locals never think of harming them. Instead, we always try to intervene, when Black-Necked cranes are being disturbed by other animals. Our people give care for the bird, and treat them as human beings,” said Jamtsho, the Phobji Gewog Gup in Wangdue Phodrang.

Owing to increased awareness on the importance of protecting the cranes, the locals have been very welcoming towards Black-necked cranes.

“Black-Necked Cranes are not much of harm as they arrive only after the harvest season. Although they eat some of our potatoes during the plantation, the people do not take it as a serious issue. So, the bird shares a friendly bond with the locals in the community,” said Sati, Phobji Gewog Mangmi in Wangdue Phodrang.

“I moved to Gangtey in 2008 and during that time the relationship between the locals and the bird was not so friendly. The locals seemed least bothered about the crane. Today one can see that the locals have so much respect for the bird,” added Nima, the Gangtey Gewog Gup in Wangdue Phodrang.

The festival which is usually celebrated for a day has now been extended to two days. The Wangdue Dzongkhag administration is organising the festival. The Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) which carries out crane conservation projects says the locals have a better understanding of the importance of the bird species now.

“There is a high chance of destroying and declining the Black-Necked Crane visiting sites. So, with such a programme, we are being able to create awareness about the importance of Black-Necked Cranes and to preserve their habitat sites in the community. Our programmes are going well so far since the locals have understood the importance of cranes by participating in every event,” said Jigme Tshering, from the RSPN.

Besides, the festival is also a source of attraction for tourists. More than eight hundred tourists including the regional tourists gathered to witness the festival and generated about Nu 400,000 in a day. The organisers decided to collect an entry fee of Nu 500 from each tourist since 2013 to sustain the festival. The money collected is being kept with the Gangtey- Phobji Environment Management Committee which works for the conservation of Black-necked Cranes, to carry out the waste management works at Ramsar sites, habitat for the Black-Necked Crane. The committee member comprises of sector heads, Local Government Leaders and school teachers in the Gewogs.

The Gangtey Black-Necked Crane Festival was introduced in 1999 with financial support from the International Crane Foundation.

Changa Dorji 

Previous Post

Dumgtseg Lhakhang restored to its former glory

Next Post

World Remembrance Day, remembering those killed and injured in road accidents

Next Post

World Remembrance Day, remembering those killed and injured in road accidents

The convict to demolish the structures if govt. is not interested to buy the resort, Trongsa land scam

Call for need of engineers and accountants in the gewogs, Samtse

Please login to join discussion

RECOMMENDED NEWS

Drujeygang Menchhu overwhelmed with visitors

Drujeygang Menchhu overwhelmed with visitors

3 years ago
2
ADB assures continued support to improve the country’s economy

ADB assures continued support to improve the country’s economy

5 years ago
0
Developmental progress impeded without a representative- Nganglam

Developmental progress impeded without a representative- Nganglam

3 years ago
1

HH Je Khenpo hands over land registration of Foothill Medicinal Recreational Park in Sarpang to Gelephu Thromde

2 years ago
1

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Accidents (14)
  • Agriculture (426)
  • Announcement (174)
  • Audience Survey Report (1)
  • Business (744)
  • Crime/Legal (367)
  • Culture (47)
  • Development (51)
  • Disaster (57)
  • Economy (278)
  • Education (413)
  • Entertainment (13)
  • Environment (61)
  • Feature (65)
  • Featured (6)
  • Festival (78)
  • GMC (14)
  • Headlines (9)
  • Health (622)
  • Legal (52)
  • Literature (9)
  • Livestock (75)
  • Media (25)
  • Other Stories (5,574)
  • Politics (419)
  • RCSC (1)
  • Recent stories (5)
  • Religion (45)
  • Sci/Tech (709)
  • Social (516)
  • Sports (449)
  • Technology (190)
  • Tourism (19)
  • Uncategorized (13,866)
  • Video (136)
  • Video Story (249)
  • Wildlife (42)

BROWSE BY TOPICS

Tender Announcement Vacancy Announcement

POPULAR NEWS

  • BPC’s investigation rules out transformer short circuit as Damchhu forest fire cause

    Viral video of Bhutanese man assaulted by locals and police in Jaigaon sparks safety concerns

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gelephu Mindfulness City opens recruitment drive for Bhutanese professionals

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Newspaper accuses DPT candidate of political ploy

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A centenarian’s recipe to longevity

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 40 companies risk closure over failure to submit financial reports

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
BBSCL

Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) is Bhutan’s primary national broadcaster, delivering diverse news and entertainment in multiple languages, fostering cultural understanding and public knowledge.

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • Phuentshogling Thromde installs reverse vending machine to promote recycling
  • Fixed deposit interest to be taxed at 10% under proposed Income Tax Bill
  • Yonphula Specialised Rehabilitation School to open next month
  • RMA to roll out seven new measures for loan repayment support
  • National Housing Strategy to be ready by September

News Category

  • Accidents
  • Agriculture
  • Announcement
  • Audience Survey Report
  • Business
  • Crime/Legal
  • Culture
  • Development
  • Disaster
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Feature
  • Featured
  • Festival
  • GMC
  • Headlines
  • Health
  • Legal
  • Literature
  • Livestock
  • Media
  • Other Stories
  • Politics
  • RCSC
  • Recent stories
  • Religion
  • Sci/Tech
  • Social
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Video Story
  • Wildlife
  • Contact Us
  • About BBS
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 BBSCL. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Audience Survey Report
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule

© 2024 BBSCL. All rights reserved.