The Black-Necked Crane of Bhutan
In Bhutan, the black-necked crane (Thrung Thrung Karmo) is revered as a sacred bird and believed to be the soul of virtuous monks returned to earth in elegant form. Legend says the cranes circle the Gangteng Monastery three times in a clockwise direction upon their arrival in the Phobjikha Valley each October — a traditional Buddhist circumambulation (kora) that is seen as a blessing. The Sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, wrote a famous poem: 'Oh white crane, lend me your wings, I'm not going far and away.' Local farmers believe that the arrival of healthy crane numbers promises good harvest