Indian Wildlife Club Forum

• Khichan, a small village in Rajasthan, India, is world-famous for its unique relationship with Demoiselle Cranes (Anthropoides virgo). Every winter, thousands of these elegant migratory birds arrive in Khichan from Central Asia, Mongolia, and Siberia, escaping the harsh cold of their breeding grounds. Why Do Demoiselle Cranes Migrate to Khichan? The migration is primarily driven by the search for food and warmer climates. Khichan has become a sanctuary for these birds due to the local Jain community's tradition of feeding them, a practice that started in the 1970s. ichan has become a sanctuary for these birds due to the local Jain community's tradition of feeding them, a practice that started in the 1970s.

Here is a video on the story of Khichan as seen through my lens in February, 2025.  The video is narrated in English and Hindi but auto-dubbed versions are available in other languages.

Khichan for Demoiselle Cranes