Siberian crane  (Grus leucogeranus)

Main threats include habitat loss and degradation in the wintering grounds, migratory stopover sites and breeding grounds. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam and the resulting hydrological changes to the lower Yangtze River is likely to have a major impact on the wintering population (6). Human pressures throughout the range are increasing and drainage, agricultural development, oil extraction and development are identified risks (7). Hunting in Pakistan and Afghanistan is a concern (6), and the recent war in Afghanistan is also thought to have affected migrating cranes (8). At present, the populations are so small that they are vulnerable to chance events such as an outbreak of disease or extreme weather conditions, genetic problems may arise as a result of increased inbreeding and the structure of the population in terms of sex-ratio and age may become skewed leading to further problems (7).

The Siberian crane is legally protected in all the countries in which it occurs and is protected from international trade by its listing on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (6). Conservation of this species began in the 1970s, and a number of protected areas have been established at key sites and migratory stopovers in Russia, China, Pakistan and India. Educational programmes have been carried out in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Three captive-breeding facilities have been set up and a number of releases have been made (7), particularly to augment the central population (6). Research into the species is ongoing and current efforts are attempting to establish an International Siberian Crane Recovery Team and a Recovery Plan for the species (7).