Red-crowned crane

Facts

IUCN ENDANGERED (EN)

Facts about this animal

They have bright white bodies with black necks and wing feathers, forehead and crown are covered with bare red skin. They have a long olive-green or greenish-horn bill and long grayish-black legs. Males and females are alike in appearance, although males tend to be slightly larger in size. They stand about 1.5 m tall, with an average 7-10 kg in weight and a wing span of about 2.5 m.

Did you know?
that the Red-crowned cranes form lifelong breeding pairs and return to the same nest site year after year? They use very elaborate dances for courting and communication between each other.

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	GRUIFORMES
Suborder	GRUES
Family	GRUIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Grus japonensis
Name (English)	Red-crowned crane
Name (French)	Grue du Japon
Name (German)	Mandschurenkranich
Name (Spanish)	Grulla Manchú
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Appendix I

Photo Copyright by
Trisha Shears

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Eastern Asia (Japan, China, Mongolia, Russia and the Korean Peninsula)
Habitat	Marshes and swamps with relatively deep water and in croplands
Wild population	Approx. 2,750 individuals, 1,650 mature individuals (2007) (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	About 700 in zoos around the world, 263 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

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
Mike Souza

Why do zoos keep this animal

The red-crowned crane is an endangered species with a relatively small wild population. An International Studbook has been established in 1971, and four regions operate coordinated ex situ conservation breeding programmes resulting in a zoo population corresponding to about one-third of the wild population.

How this animal should be kept

During the breeding season, adult red-crowned cranes must be kept in pairs to prevent aggression mortality. During the winter half year keeping in larger groups may be possible. Subadults up to 3 years of age may be kept in bacheloir groups.

An outdoor enclosure or aviary of at least 300 m² for each pair is required. Ideally, the enclosure should include grass-covered soil planted with sedge grasses and a few low bushes or trees. A shallow pool is advisable for enrichment. Aviaries must be at least 3 m high and should be flight netted to prevent escape and contact with wild birds. Pinioning should be avoided as this may result in decreased reproductive capability. In cold and temperate climates a frost-free indoor enclosure of at least 10 m² is recommended but not absolutely necessary.

White-naped cranes should be fed a formulated crane diet, or a balanced diet may be designed using plant material and grain mixes to which a moderate amount of minced meat, insects or small vertebrates such as fish, mice, or day-old chicks have been added.

For extensive husbandry and breeding guidelines see Cranes: Their Biology, Husbandry, and Conservation at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/resshow/gee/cranbook/cranebook.htm