Taxonomic Name: Grus japonensis 

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)  

Wild Range: China, Japan, and Siberia. They live in sedge marshes during the breeding season, and tidal flats, lakeshores, and rice paddies during the winter.

Diet: Crabs, fish, and agricultural crops (rice)  

Longevity in the wild: ~ 30 years

Size: 158 cm, with a 2.5 m wingspan

Weight: 7-10 kg 

Fun Fact: The red-crowned crane is one of the longest-lived bird species, and they are believed to mate for life. Because of this, they are symbols of longevity and fidelity in some East Asian cultures.

APZ Location: Open Range 

Conservation Story: Red-crowned cranes require large expanses of wetland for nesting and foraging, and the loss of this habitat has resulted in declining crane populations. In addition, human-wildlife conflict on the cranes’ overwintering grounds sometimes occurs when the birds forage in cultivated rice fields. Work is being done to develop sustainable farming methods that also provide food for the cranes.