Red-Crowned Crane - Meet The Endangered
Red-Crowned Crane (Grus japonensis)
The Red-Crowned Crane is among the largest and rarest cranes in the world. The shimmeringly albescent, crimson-topped bird is native to Northeast Asia - particularly the Chinese province of Manchuria, Korea, and the Japanese island of Hokkaido.
The Red-Crowned Crane is deeply ingrained in East Asian cultures, representing loyalty, longevity, luck, and faithfulness. It mates for life, and, as a result, is often depicted at wedding ceremonies. In Japan, it features on the ¥1000 banknote and the logo of Japan Airlines.
There are an estimated 4,600 Red-Crowned Cranes remaining in the wild, but their conservation fortunes vary dramatically by geography. In Japan and Korea, the cranes have been protected for decades and populations are increasing. In China, the destruction of wetland habitat continues apace and populations are careening to extinction.
IUCN: Vulnerable (VU)
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