Noida Man Found With Carcass Of UP's State Animal Sarus, Arrested

A suspected hunter has been arrested after a dead Sarus crane - the state bird of Uttar Pradesh - was found in his possession in Greater Noida while his partner managed to flee the spot, police said on Friday.

The accused was held during patrolling by local police along the Chachura border in the Rabupura police station area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district on Thursday evening, they said.

"Two men on motorcycle UP 13 AP 0979 were carrying the dead Sarus crane when they were intercepted by the police following a tip-off," a police spokesperson said.

"During a preliminary probe, they said they had trapped the Sarus crane by putting a noose around its neck after they spotted it in the jungle of nearby Myana village," the spokesperson said.

The police said while they were able to arrest Risiya, around 35, his partner Kamal managed to escape and efforts are underway to nab him again.

Risiya hails from Amroha, while Kamal is a native of Aligarh, the police said.

An FIR has been lodged under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the police added.

The Sarus crane was designated as Uttar Pradesh's state bird in 2014 amid its dwindling population globally, highlighting the importance of conserving its population and habitat.

Known as the world's tallest flying bird, the Sarus crane is also classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

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