White-naped Crane

(Grus vipio)


Facts

White-naped Crane IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

 

Facts about this animal

The White-naped Crane is an elegant, mainly grey crane with a red face and forehead. The back of the neck from mantle to bare red skin, throat, front of the neck and sides of the upper part of neck are white. The legs and feets are pinkish, the bill is laterally compressed and greenish-yellow in colour. The sexes are alike.

Did you know?
that the white-naped crane is a symbol in the Korean New Year celebration, and featured in art and folklore?


 

Factsheet
Class AVES
Order GRUIFORMES
Suborder GRUES
Family GRUIDAE
Name (Scientific) Grus vipio
Name (English) White-naped Crane
Name (French) Grue à cou blanc
Name (German) Weissnackenkranich
Name (Spanish) Grulla cuelliblanca
CITES Status Appendix I
CMS Status Appendix I

 

 

Photo Copyright by
Stuart Elsom

Distribution

 


Distribution
Range Eastern Asia
Habitat Shallow wetlands, wet meadows, lake edges, lowland steppes, fixed forest-steppe, farmlands.
Wild population In wintering China: 3,000-4,000 (2002-2006); wintering Japan: 3,094 and Korea: 387 (2004) (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population 199 reported to ISIS

In the Zoo

White-naped 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
Stuart Elsom

Why do zoos keep this animal

There are only about 5'000 white-naped cranes left in the wild. The population is declining and is vulnerable to extinction. With a view of building up a reserve population, an International Studbook has been established under the WAZA umbrella, and coordinated conservation breeding programmes are operated at the regional level by AZA, EAZA and JAZA.

 

How this animal should be kept

During the breeding season, adult white-naped 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