Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status

• Second rarest crane species, after whooping crane (Swengel 1996a)
• Estimated 2,800-3,300 individuals in wild but only 1,830 are mature individuals (BirdLife International 2016)
• Wintering subpopulations (Swengel 1996a):
  • China 600-800; trend unknown
  • North Korea 300-600; trend increasing
  • South Korea 200-300; trend unknown
  • Japan (Hokkaido) 594; trend increasing
• Population trend overall:decreasing
• Population numbers lowest in Japan after World War II - 33 individuals (Archibald & Meine 1996)
• In 1990s some 600 individuals in Japan (del Hoyo et al. 1996)
• Population on Asian mainland declining (Johnsgard 2008)
• Japanese population on northern island of Hokkaido increasing slowly since 1970s
  • Due to special protection of the few breeding areas used by cranes and winter feeding
• In June 2008 a red-crowned crane sighted on Honshu, Japan, for the first time in 100 years (Hays 2009)

• IUCN Status:
  • Vulnerable (2021 assessment) (BirdLife International 2021)
    • Population trend: Decreasing
• CITES Status
  • Appendix I (UNEP 2019)
• IUCN/SSC (2011) suggested conservation actions:
  • Expand area and number of wintering sites in Japan
  • Establish a protected area at boundary between Russia/China/North Korea
  • Establish protected area in estuaries of demilitarized zone (N/S Korea)
  • Establish protection on Sanjiang Plain of China
  • Stop reclamation of tidal flats along Yangcheng coast of China
  • Prevent poisoning from pesticides and poaching
  • Control fires
  • Establish conservation interest groups
• Conservation efforts:
  • Khingansky Zapovednik, Amur River Basin, Russia (Andronov 2011)
    • Wetland of International Significance (RAMSAR Convention)
    • Key Crane Territory (RAMSAR Convention)
    • Ways to reduce careless fires being developed
    • Local support for cranes through environmental education, especially "Crane Day" festival
    • International efforts to coordinate migration studies
  • Red-crowned Crane Nature Park, Hokkaido dedicated in 1958 (Masatomi 1981)
    • Efforts began to popularize crane preservation
    • Wintering feeding areas established
    • Study of cranes encouraged
  • In 2009 biologists with Kyungpook National University in Korea successfully used artificial insemination to hatch chicks (Chosunilbo 2011)
• A series of nature reserves in China helps protect crane flyways, including breeding areas for red-crowned cranes (Three White Cranes, Two Flyways, One World 2011):
• Key protected areas at present (Bird Life International 2011):
  • Russia: Khingansky, Muraviovaka Park and Lake Khanka
  • China: Shalong, Xianghai, Shuangtai Hekou, Yellow River delta and Yancheng
  • Border area of Russia, China, Mongolia: Daursky Nature Reserve
  • North Korea: Mundok
  • Japan (Hokkaido): Kushiro, Akkeshi-Bekanbeushi and Kiritappu
    • By 2006 red-crowned cranes have increased from near 50 in 1970s to around 1,240 individuals in Japan (Johnsgard 2008)
    • Conservation efforts resulted in the species "return from near extinction" (Johnsgard 2008)

(IUCN 2011)

•  Wetland degredation and destruction, especially:
  • Agriculture
  • Industrial and economic development, especially oilfield pollution
    • High adult mortality in wintering grounds due to heavy metal contamination
• In China and Russia:
  • Spring fires
  • Dams (cause lower water levels in wetlands, giving predators access to nests)
• In DMZ area of North/South Korea, change to autumn plowing reduces access to waste grain
• Crowding at Japanese feeding stations increases threat of disease

The loss of wetland habitat is the main threat to the Red-crowned Crane.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Bird Life International (2011)
Chosunilbo (2011)
Hays (2009)
del Hoyo et al. (1996)
IUCN (2011)
Johnsgard (2008)
Swengel (1996a)