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The number of Sarus cranes in Kanchanpur and Kailali region has been decreasing every year.

Flocks of Sarus cranes used to be seen in the wetland areas have lately become difficult to spot. With the destruction of wetland areas for cultivation, the habitat of the cranes has been shrinking each passing year. This means that the food for the birds has also been dwindling.

According to Hirulal Dagaura, an ornithologist at the Nepal Bird Conservation Society, the existence of this bird is in danger due to farmers increasingly using chemical fertilizers along with pesticides for farming.

The hunting of the Sarus, stealing its eggs, along with climate change and environmental pollution, has created additional risks.

Ornithologist Dagaura said up to five Saras cranes have been recorded in Kailali and up to 22 in Kanchanpur.

This bird can be spotted in Kalikich lake of Shuklaphanta National Park and in the wetlands of Beldandi Rural Municipality. Sometimes during the rainy season, cranes can be seen searching for food in rice fields in other areas and in the Ramsar site of Ghodaghodi lake in Kailali.

Since cranes feed on insects that are considered harmful to crops, they can be viewed as beneficial birds for farmers. When insect-pest control is done, farmers can harvest more produce, but recently it has been observed that this bird itself is in trouble.

Since cranes eat insects that are considered harmful to crops, they can be viewed as beneficial birds for farmers. In this way cranes help control insects and pest infestation in crops, but recently it has been observed that this bird itself is facing an existential crisis.

When ferocious animals like tigers, leopards, foxes, and wild boars come nearby, this bird alerts with a loud call. Therefore, the crane is also considered a human-friendly bird.

This bird, according to ornithologist Dagaura, relies on paddy fields and wetlands to make its nest and feed.

“But in recent days, it is hardly possible to see this bird here. Therefore, it is essential for the municipality and local communities to pay special attention to protecting wetland areas. Along with the importance of this bird, awareness about its habits, behavior, and habitat should be raised to involve local residents in conservation efforts,” he said.

Experts suggest that it is necessary to encourage farmers to promote the use of organic fertilizers and organic pesticides while discouraging the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture.

The Sarus crane is listed as a protected bird under the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has included it in the list of vulnerable species.

According to statistics, there are more than 600 Sarus cranes only in Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, and Nawalparasi. In South Asia, it is estimated that the number of this bird is about 10, 000..

Each traffic police officer in the Kathmandu Valley is responsible for managing an average of 1,787 vehicles, according to the latest report from the Auditor General. There are 2,084 kilometers of road across the three districts of the Valley, while the total number of vehicles registered in Bagmati Province in the fiscal year 2023/24 has reached 1,988,819.

The report highlights that only 1,113 personnel are currently deployed to manage traffic in the Valley. This means each officer must oversee both a high number of vehicles and an average of 1.87 kilometers of road.

According to Binod Ghimire, Chief of the Valley Traffic Division, the workload on traffic police is considerable given the current manpower. However, he noted that not all vehicles registered in Bagmati Province operate solely within the Valley.

The introduction of traffic lights, CCTV cameras, and other technologies has eased vehicle monitoring to some extent. The Traffic Division now uses 326 CCTV cameras installed across various locations in the Valley to monitor traffic violations, investigate accidents, and track vehicle theft.

Recently, Auditor General Toyam Raya submitted the 62nd annual report to President Ram Chandra Paudel. The report states that the average annual growth rate of road accidents in Nepal is 12.48 percent. It attributes the rise in accidents to poor road and vehicle conditions, traffic congestion, and delays in completing road construction projects.

Over the past five years, the number of people seriously injured in traffic accidents has increased by 7.35 percent annually, while minor injuries have risen by 6.16 percent. The report points to poor driver training, lack of awareness of traffic rules, and driver negligence as key causes of fatalities and injuries.

To address these issues, the Auditor General has recommended improvements in road infrastructure, pedestrian crossings, parking facilities, traffic signals, CCTV coverage, and road signage. It also calls for better inter-agency coordination and strict enforcement of the Vehicle and Traffic Acts.

The report further urges authorities to closely monitor vehicle condition, load limits, passenger capacity, and speed. It recommends implementing intelligent traffic light systems and ensuring strict compliance with traffic signs to improve traffic management not only in Kathmandu but also in other major cities.

Another area of concern raised in the report is the large number of abandoned vehicles at police offices. According to the Police Headquarters, as of fiscal year 2022/23, 6,982 vehicles—including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers—remain abandoned, with no identified owners.

Although 5,518 vehicles were auctioned in the same year, including 5,478 two-wheelers, 2 three-wheelers, and 38 four-wheelers, 1,464 vehicles are still left unattended. As per the 2022 Procedure for Auctioning Government Property and Goods, such vehicles should be documented, publicly notified for 15 days, and auctioned if no ownership claim is made. The report emphasizes the need to update records and auction the remaining vehicles as required by law.

Suryakumar Yadav’s resolute 73 not out and late fireworks from Naman Dhir lifted Mumbai Indians to 180/5 on a sluggish surface exploited well by Delhi Capitals spinners Kuldeep Yadav (1/25) and Vipraj Nigam (0/25) in their IPL clash here on Wednesday, The Hindu reported.

On an uncharacteristic Wankhede Stadium pitch which had plenty of grip and turn for spinners and slow cutters doing the job for fast bowlers, Suryakumar dug in to produce a quality knock for the five-time IPL winners.

Suryakumar struck seven fours and four sixes to make 73 not out off 43 balls while forging two crucial stands, which revived a faltering innings.

First, amid a challenging phase of play with DC’s spinners dominating the proceedings, Suryakumar put on 55 runs for the fourth wicket with Tilak Varma and towards the end, found a perfect foil in Dhir (24 off 8 balls, 2x4s, 2x6s) to add another 57 runs from a mere 21 balls, according to The Hindu.

Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the Europa League final, lifting its first European trophy in more than four decades to qualify for next season’s Champions League, Aljazeera reported.

It is the first major title for Tottenham since it won the English League Cup in 2008, and its first European triumph since it won its second UEFA Cup — the equivalent of the Europa League now — in 1984.

Brennan Johnson squeezed in the winner at the end of the first half on Wednesday to help Spurs salvage a dismal season, in which it will finish near the bottom of the Premier League standings, according to Aljazeera.

Artists have captured the features of Mundum trail, which the government has declared one of the 100-must visit tourist destinations.  

Twenty national artists depicted the features of the Mundum trail through their artwork in the National Art Workshop organised at Temkemaiyung for its promotion. 

The artists had drawn the paintings of Red Panda seen in Mundum trekking trail, Tayama Khiyama which is connected with the culture of Kirant community, Chindo, costume of locals, in the three-day workshop.  

Chairperson of Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality  Saroj Basnet said the workshop was organised with an objective of developing, promoting and making publicity of Mundum trekking route through painting. 

They have also set a target of establishing Mundum trekking route as the centre of yoga and meditation, he opined. The paintings drawn in the workshop would be exhibited in Kathmandu.

The three-day workshop concluded on Wednesday in presence of the Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, Naradmuni Hartamchhali. 

Chancellor Hartamchhali shared that the workshop would help preserve art and culture along with publicity of Mundum trail.

Mechi Customs Office has collected Rs 12.94 billion in revenue in the 10 months of current fiscal year 2024/25 which is 91.51 percent of the target goal set for the period.

Such amount in revenue was collected importing goods worth Rs 38.88 billion.

Information Officer Ishwor Kumar Humagain said the office had set a target of collecting Rs 14.14 billion in revenue till the end of May 14, 2025.

"Only 76.85 percent revenue was collected against the target of Rs 15.8 billion during the corresponding period of fiscal year 2023/24. However, we are able to collect 91.51 per cent revenue of the target this time", he added.

According to the office, Rs 7.83 billion in revenue was collected from import of petroleum products in 10 months from Mechi Customs Office, Rs 583.3 million from vegetables, Rs 365.3 billion from vehicles and their spares, Rs 241 million from minerals production, Rs 193.6 million from coffee, Rs 202.9 million from lentils. 

Similarly, Rs 198.9 million was collected in revenue exporting goods worth Rs 21.45 billion in 10 months of current fiscal year.

The country is currently witnessing the impacts of westerly and local winds. 

The winds with water vapor generated from Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea also have partial impacts on Nepal, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division.

The weather throughout the country would remain partly to generally cloudy in the afternoon and night today.  

Some places in the high-hilly region of Koshi, Bagmati, Lumbini, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim Provinces will witness light to moderate rain coupled with thunder and lightning. 

Light rain and snowfall is likely at one or two places in the high-hilly and mountainous regions of the country.

Four parliamentary committees under the Federal Parliament are holding meetings today. 

According to the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Finance Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Development Economic Affairs and Good Governance and Federalism Enablement and National Concern Committee are scheduled to hold meetings.

The meeting of the Finance Committee under the House of Representatives is taking place at 11 am where discussion would be held on the issues to be incorporated in the budget for the coming fiscal year.

Discussion would be held between committee members and National Planning Commission, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Nepalese Industries. 

Similarly, the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee would meet at 11 am where discussion would be held on complaints it received. 

At 11:30 am, the Committee on Federalism Enablement and National Concern under the National Assembly is holding its meeting. 

An agenda has been set to discuss the principles and priorities of Appropriation Bill, 2082 in the meeting where discussion would be held among the Finance Ministry, National Planning Commission and National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission. 

Likewise, the Federalism Enablement and National Concern Committee is discussing the activities carried out for Disaster Management (disaster mitigation, response and recovery). An agenda has been set to discuss the preparation for disaster risk reduction, future action plan and other issues in the meeting.