PESHAWAR, Jan 14: The number of cranes flying over NWFP and staying here during mild days is declining, as their hunting is on the rise.

The threat to the migratory bird has prompted International Crane Foundation (ICF) which has formulated rehabilitation plan for the conservation of the species, particularly Siberian cranes in Pakistan, conservators said on Thursday.

A representative of the ICF in Peshawar, Ahmad Khan said that the foundation was working out a plan to use hang-gliders that would accompany flocks of Siberian cranes from Kunovat (Russia) to the Indian state of Gujarat via their traditional route - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said that the birds were facing hostile environment both in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has reduced their population. Wildlife experts said that hundreds of thousands cranes flew over Pakistan's river Kurram on their way to India.

According to the rough estimates 10 per cent of the cranes are trapped or killed in Pakistan annually. Out of 15 species of the cranes, four have been declared endangered including Siberian cranes, which have only 3,000 population across the world.

Mr Khan said that a conservation plan was under consideration to minimize threat to the birds when they flew over the region and rehabilitate their habitats.

Study conducted by the conservators showed that hostile condition in Pakistan and Afghanistan irritated the species which forced them to fly at a high altitude, when they entered in the air space of the two neighbouring countries.

"In Central Asian States and India the bird is safe and face threat in Pakistan due to massive hunting, trapping and loss of habitat," Mr Khan said. The ICF and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) were lobbying at official and community level to protect the bird to reduce burden on its population, he said.

The ICF representative believed that Siberian cranes could be reintroduced on their traditional central routes via Pakistan, if the community was educated properly.

He said that out of 15, four species of cranes Sarus, Demoiselle, Eurasian and Siberian flew between Siberia and India via Pakistan and Afghanistan during their annual migration period.

However, since 2001 lesser number of Siberian cranes have been using Afghanistan-Pakistan corridor on their way to India. Now only three of the species use this route by flying at an high altitude to avoid getting hunted down while crossing Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"It is a dream for us to revive Siberian cranes on Afghanistan-Pakistan route," Mr Khan said, adding that it would take about three years to educate community. After community awareness, he said, the ICF would launch hang glider project accompanied by a flock of cranes from Siberia to India via Pakistan.