White-naped crane  (Grus vipio)

Wetland habitats are commonly threatened by drainage for agriculture, and the breeding grounds of the white-naped crane are no exception. Fires also cause habitat destruction at nesting sites and can rapidly decimate a nesting colony (2). In Mongolia, drought, over-grazing and human disturbance are also major threats to breeding white-naped cranes (8).

The wintering grounds in the wetlands of the Yangtze basin are threatened by development and human disturbance. A major threat to the natural functioning of the Yangtze river basin is the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, which prevents normal water flow and thereby alters habitats and fish migratory movements. The demilitarised zone between North Korea and South Korea is expected to be developed shortly, which may deprive the white-naped crane of one of its most important wintering sites. Hunting is a minor threat and pesticide poisoning a potential threat (2).

The white-naped crane is legally protected in all its range states, (for example, hunting of this species is prohibited in Mongolia (8)), and is found in many protected areas (2). An artificial feeding station in Japan has resulted in an increase in the population that winters in Japan, although whether it is due to higher breeding success or simply the relocation of other birds is not clear. A protected area at the intersection between Russia, China, Mongolia and North Korea has been proposed for the benefit of breeding white-naped cranes. It is also necessary to ensure key areas in the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea are protected, and to preserve the wetlands around the Three Gorges Dam in China. There is also concern for the Japanese wintering population, as they congregate around the feeding sites, increasing the risk of an epidemic affecting a large proportion of the population. The intended solution to this problem is to encourage the birds to spread over a larger area in Japan during the winter (2).