Cranes and Their Research in Yunnan Province

Yunnan Province is home to seven crane species: Demoiselle (Anthropoides virgo), Siberian (Grus leucogeranus), Sarus (G. antigone), Eurasian (G. grus), Hooded (G. monacha), Black-necked (G. nigricollis) and Red-crowned (G. japonensis) Cranes, more than any other province in China, and the only province with sightings of Sarus Cranes. Of these seven crane species, Black-necked Cranes have been studied the most and Eurasian Cranes are moderately studied, while for the rest of species only distribution data are available. In Yunnan Province, 39 counties have recorded crane sightings, 25 of which were made before 2000. The major threats to the survival of the cranes are loss and degradation of habitats, especially wetland reclamation and farming practices. Conservation initiative should be launched to protect the cranes.