The summer is approaching fast and with final call of a melodious song, Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) in Bumdeling will depart to their summer roosting ground up north. Having two first pair of adult cranes landed on 8:30 AM on November 7, 2022, the whole folk will fly out after wintering in Bumdeling. Soon, the valley will fall back again to silence, devoid of BNC’s calls that usually fill up and reverberates the valley.To bid farewell to the departing BNCs, Bumdeling Crane Festival will be held on 8th February 2023. The local farmers and students will sing and dance as graceful as the BNC presenting various cultural programmes to mark the day. Various advocacy messages and activities will be also held on importance of BNC. In addition, visitors will be also able to experience local cuisine, beverages, archery and numerous other cultural activities.
The Bumdeling Crane festival will be one of the largest festivals in the east to be put up by people of Bumdeling and Yangtse under Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag. According to Mr. Sithup Lhendup, Chief Forestry Officer, BWS, in anticipation for the festival, the preparation is being carried out. “We are already preparing a detail plan for the festival,” he said.
The Festival is being hosted by the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS), Department of Forests and Park Services, RSPN and the International Crane Foundation.
While the the crane festival in Phobjikha, is usually organized to welcome the cranes to Bhutan, coinciding or just before the cranes land, the Bumdeling crame festival is held to bid farewell to the cranes as they start their journey over the mighty Himalayas to reach their summer home in Tibet.
The Bumdeling Crane Festival is supported by the International Crane Foundation and GEF Ecotourism project, Department of Tourism.
For further details please contact Mr. Sangay Drukpa (BWS) @17121247 or Mr. Jigme Tshering (RSPN) @17953933.
Source: RSPN
