India, Feb. 5 -- The population of sarus cranes in the state has gone up by 634 or 3.1% in a year, as per a government census conducted across 68 forest divisions of Uttar Pradesh.

The winter census report, which was shared on Wednesday, showed that the population of the state bird rose from 19,994 last year to 20,628.

The Etawah forest division has the highest 3,304 sarus cranes; 10 other divisions reported populations exceeding 500. "Nearly 10,000 citizens participated in the winter census programme," said Anuradha Vemuri, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife).

The statewide sarus census is conducted twice annually- in summers and winters. In 2023, the sarus population stood at 19,196, which increased to 19,994 in 2024. In...