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Why are the red-cronwed cranes endangered?

by | 28-03-2013 13:04 recommendations 0

Red-crowned cranes are registered as threatened species in the Red Data Book of the International Centre for Birds of Prey. The international society is calling for the protection of these long-necked birds, because their existences are threatened due to habitat destruction. What is endangering these birds, and causing them to desert their original habitats?


DMZ is the only place in the world where people could observe the red-crowned crane, white-naped crane, Siberian white crane, and the hooded cranes hibernating together. However, some people are converting the rice fields into ginseng farms, cattle pens and film houses. Cranes require vast open spaces for hibernation. They cannot escape as fast as other birds, and must detect predators before they approach. Human constructions consume much space and therefore, make it hard for the cranes to find a spot to repose.


Cranes are undiscriminating eaters. However, in the winter, their primary source of food is the rice grain. They consume over 1600 tons of rice grains which can be found in the rice straws that remain in the farmlands after harvest. Because of the recent increase in the price of animal feeds, farmers are selling these rice straws as alternatives. They wrap the rice straws in a bundle and cover them up with plastic so that the birds can't eat them. 


With new technology, the cranes are suffering more. Combines cleanly strip the ears from the rice and chemicals contaminate the rice. The local governments are requesting the farmers to save some grains and straws for the cranes. However, the farmers are angry because the government is forcing them to bear the cost. They refuse to comply with the government, and instead, plow up the soil, causing many cranes starve in the winter. 


Cranes are very sensitive birds. They are wary of the smallest change in movements, and sounds hundreds of meters away because they cannot escape very well. When people create noise by paving roads, driving combines and tractors, and running military drills these birds are extremely stressed. Also, some tourists are not following the proper guidelines for watching birds, talking loudly and flashing their cameras every time they discover a crane.   


It is unfortunate that red-crowned cranes, birds that we adore so much, disappear. Their extinction would mean that humans have severed the natural flow of life that continued from Siberia to Japan for thousands of years. Our ancestors used to save some persimmons for the magpies. They understood that humans should share their harvest with other creatures. We must learn the wisdom of coexistence from our ancestors and leave some grains for the cranes. This should be made feasible by the government by subsidies, and regulations that restrict development in this area. 

 
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47 Comments

  • says :
    Thank you for sharing.
    Posted 27-08-2013 19:25

  • says :
    Nice picture & great report
    Posted 16-06-2013 19:57

  • says :
    Thank you for all your comments!! :))
    Posted 12-04-2013 16:41

  • says :
    thank you for this wonderful report, biodiversity at threat- common thing in the world which needs action from all...
    Posted 04-04-2013 23:34

  • says :
    Thank you for posting
    Posted 02-04-2013 04:06

  • says :
    Thanks for report
    Posted 01-04-2013 07:57

  • says :
    informative~!
    Posted 31-03-2013 23:32

  • says :
    :|
    Posted 31-03-2013 23:08

  • says :
    sad
    Posted 31-03-2013 23:07

  • says :
    The pictures are very nice.
    Posted 31-03-2013 11:12

  • says :
    very nice.
    Posted 31-03-2013 09:36

  • says :
    Beautiful pictures . nice report !
    Posted 30-03-2013 19:59

  • says :
    nice pic

    Posted 30-03-2013 14:45

  • says :
    thanks for info.
    Posted 30-03-2013 14:38

  • says :
    Thanks for sharing this
    Posted 30-03-2013 03:00

  • says :
    great.
    Posted 30-03-2013 01:10

  • says :
    nice pic.
    Posted 29-03-2013 19:47

  • says :
    nice pic.
    Posted 29-03-2013 19:46

  • says :
    thanks for sharing.
    Posted 29-03-2013 19:14

  • says :
    The pictures are beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
    It's a very stupid thing trying to make farmers sacrifice their economic interest to protect wild lives. The government should find a way to make up for their economic loss.
    Posted 29-03-2013 17:02

  • says :
    nice picture let move forward
    Posted 29-03-2013 16:27

  • says :
    thanks for report.
    Posted 29-03-2013 11:55

  • says :
    thanks for report.
    Posted 29-03-2013 11:53

  • says :
    I was trying to get presence of Crane in your photographs. Thanks for the report.
    Posted 29-03-2013 11:32

  • says :
    nice pic

    Posted 29-03-2013 09:59

  • says :
    Very nice article..........
    Posted 29-03-2013 09:46

  • says :
    nice picture.
    Posted 29-03-2013 09:23

  • says :
    yes informative.
    Posted 29-03-2013 09:18

  • says :
    nice picture too.
    Posted 29-03-2013 08:58

  • says :
    very informative.
    Posted 29-03-2013 08:58

  • says :
    thanks for sharing!. and it is unfortunate that we can??t live in harmony with nature. In my country the same thing happens with many species. Even when these species that have inhabited these places long before us.
    Posted 29-03-2013 05:24

  • says :
    nice one
    Posted 29-03-2013 04:48

  • says :
    Very nice article!
    Posted 29-03-2013 04:09

  • says :
    and yes very informative
    Posted 29-03-2013 02:44

  • says :
    the area seems to be wetlands.. nice pic
    Posted 29-03-2013 02:41

  • says :
    nice pic
    Posted 29-03-2013 02:37

  • says :
    informative
    Posted 29-03-2013 02:36

  • says :
    nice ...........
    Posted 29-03-2013 02:35

  • says :
    nice pic and great one.
    Posted 29-03-2013 01:38

  • says :
    Thanks for sharing this information Kim .
    Posted 29-03-2013 01:26

  • says :
    nice.
    Posted 29-03-2013 01:11

  • says :
    nice
    Posted 29-03-2013 00:30

  • says :
    Hey you may post your own photo as ambassador
    Posted 28-03-2013 22:01

  • says :
    You may short resolution. Becuse it takes time to load
    Posted 28-03-2013 22:01

  • says :
    nice pic
    Posted 28-03-2013 22:00

  • says :
    The first picuture is a picture of us, DMZ explorers, counting the number of grains left on the rice fields. The second and third picture is a view of the DMZ in the winter. Isn't it beautiful?!!
    Posted 28-03-2013 13:05

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