Ladakh Hosts India’s First Black?Necked Crane Festival

India’s first Black?Necked Crane Festival commenced in Ladakh on Tuesday, bringing together conservationists, researchers and experts from across India and abroad, including representatives from the United Nations.

Delegates from Bhutan and Nepal—countries that hold significant populations of the species—also joined the event, underscoring the festival’s international conservation relevance.

Lieutenant Governor Vinai



Kumar Saxena, while inaugurating the festival, described it as a landmark initiative dedicated to conserving the endangered Black?Necked Crane and strengthening environmental protection, economic welfare and sustainable livelihoods for Ladakh’s local communities. 

The festival’s diverse participation reflected a shared commitment to safeguarding this rare alpine crane, the only crane species in the world adapted to high?altitude ecosystems.