Rice-growing scheme to help boost crane population in Cambodia

A group of eastern sarus cranes, the tallest bird in the world, stand in a paddy field in Anlung Pring province in Cambodia. - NATURELIFE CAMBODIA

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Rice is a staple for many in Asia - not just people, but wildlife too.

Now, under a new initiative led by conservation group BirdLife International, some farmers in Cambodia are planting strains of rice favoured by the eastern sarus crane to help increase numbers of the endangered species.