15,000 Children

February 24, 2019-

“No, I don’t have any. But no, I do have. I have about 15,000 of them!’ - Ratanlal Maloo, the Founder of the Crane Sanctuary, when asked if he had any children.

These are thousands of Demoiselle Cranes. They are native to Siberia in Russia and every year migrate to this spot in Western India.

The reserve was founded by Ratanlal Maloo a devotee of Jainism who would feed the birds as an act of worship.

By doing so, the birds would stay away from farmer’s fields and have become a tourist draw in an otherwise bare desert landscape. Like most cranes, they are beautiful , graceful birds and to see so many gathered here was an unexpected treat on our drive to Jaisalmer today.

We will be here for 4 nights, then one more stop in the Himalayan foothills before returning home.

You can learn more about this bird sanctuary here-

https://www.thebetterindia.com/…/tbi-travel-the-bird-man-o…/