Applying molecular sex identification methods to “Karma”, the injured black-necked crane (Grusnigricollis) of Phobjikha
Author Isao NISHIUMI, Indra P. Acharja, Jigme Tshering, Midori YOSHIKAWA, Pema Khandu, Santalal Gajmer, Tsukasa WAKI, Kinley Tenzin and Satoshi SHIMANO
Abstract
The black-necked crane (BNC) is endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the adjacent southern Himalayas, and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. They are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and are a Schedule I protected species in Bhutan. In early 2015, an injured crane was rescued in Phobijkha and named “Karma”. Karma could be a founder for exsitu conservation of BNCs. To determine Karma’s sex, four molecular sexing methods were texted. Two of these, introduced by Fridolfsson & Ellegren (1999) and Griffiths et al.(1996), were found to be applicable to BNC and both suggested that Karma is male. It is planned that a female mate be introduced to Karma.