Black-necked Crane

(Grus nigricollis)


Facts

Black-necked Crane IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

 

Facts about this animal

The Black-necked Crane is a ashy grey crane with almost whitish under parts and with a black neck and head, black cloak over the wing tips and the tail. The crown and the lores are nearly naked and red. The legs are also black. The sexes are alike, but the males are slightly larger.

Did you know?
that local religious beliefs protect the black-necked cranes? They are regarded as supernatural and are featured in religious temples and art.


 

Factsheet
Class AVES
Order GRUIFORMES
Suborder GRUES
Family GRUIDAE
Name (Scientific) Grus nigricollis
Name (English) Black-necked Crane
Name (French) Grue à cou noir
Name (German) Schwarzhalskranich
Name (Spanish) Grulla cuellinegra
CITES Status Appendix I
CMS Status Appendix I

 

 

Photo Copyright by
Eric Kilby

Distribution

 


Distribution
Range Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Viet Nam
Habitat Alpine bog meadows, riverine marshes, river valleys and reservoir shorelines
Wild population Approx. 11,000, with 8,800 mature individuals (2007) (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population 250 (83.107.60) registered by the International Studbook (Dec 2007).

In the Zoo

Black-necked Crane

 

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 17 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

 

Find this animal on ZooLex

 

Photo Copyright by
Eric Savage

Why do zoos keep this animal

With a population of probably less than 6'000 birds surviving in the wild the black-necked crane has been rated vulnerable by IUCN. In order to build up a reserve population, an International Studbook has been established under the WAZA umbrella. The Studbook is published by the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens and comprised 213 birds in 2005.