Our History

Our story began in 1989, when a joint effort between Nepalese crane conservationists and the International Crane Foundation (ICF), USA gave rise to important research on the status of the Sarus Crane in Nepal. This collaborative work recognized the natural ecosystems of the Lumbini Garden, the birthplace of the Buddha, as an ideal site for a crane conservation initiative. 

On December 25, 1994 an agreement between Lumbini Development Trust and ICF was signed for a 50-year lease of 256 acres of land to establish the Lumbini Crane Sanctuary (LCS) in Lumbini. Initially, five artificial wetlands were created, and it wasn’t long before Sarus Cranes began nesting in this new example of harmony between man and nature. Since its inception, the LCS has recorded over 210 species of birds, and 200 – 300 pairs of Sarus Cranes nesting in and around its territory.