Distribution and conservation status of Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) in Qinghai, China: A Review

Qinghai Province is the first specimen collecting place of the Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis), however, research of Black-necked cranes in this place started only in the 1980s. Moreover, Qinghai was the earliest area where artificial reproduction of the Black-necked Crane was successfully carried out. Because of its unique plateau landscape, Qinghai Province, with the exception of the east agricultural zone, has become a superior breeding habitat, for Black-necked Cranes. Qinghai Province has also established a vast wetland nature protection area covering 200,000 km², accounting for 2/7 of the provincial land area. However, the known reproduction of Black-necked Cranes in the wild is less than 200 pairs and more study about the distribution of breeding pairs of Black-necked Cranes needs to be undertaken. Given that human activities are intensifying in the Black-necked Crane breeding habitat, the research support for its protection is not enough and professional staff training for wetland investigation and monitoring are primary issues which need more attention and solutions in the future.