113 The Migration Flyways and Protection of Cranes in China Ke-ji SUN, Naoya HIJIKATA, Tomohiro ICHINOSE and Hiroyoshi HIGUCHI Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University 5322 Endo, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa, 252-0882, Japan e-mail: [email protected] Abstract In China, wetlands are being continuously developed for economic reasons, which results in the decrease and fragmentation of habitats of water birds such as cranes. In order to better understand China’s crane populations so that they may be better protected as a resource, we studied the migration and ecology of red-crowned and white-naped cranes as indicator species. Combining satellite-tracking results with a litera- ture survey and collection of network information, we reviewed the migration flyways, current status of im- portant habitats, and main existing issues that surround the conservation of red-crowned and white-naped cranes in China. Our results demonstrate that, due to the development of agriculture, animal husbandry, and industry, Chinese populations of red-crowned and white-naped cranes are under tremendous threat from habi- tat destruction, human disturbance, chemical pollution, and bird poaching. Current conservation measures are unlikely to be effective in the protection of crane populations. In order to ease the survival pressure on cranes, preservation of their habitats, protection of the environment along migration flyways, and development of effective management systems are of paramount importance. Key words: crane conservation, habitat status, migration flyway, red-crowned crane, white-naped crane 1. Introduction This decline is associated with increasing development of crane habitats, which has led to increasing survival China has a rich and diverse crane population. Among pressure on crane populations (Qian, 2005). the 15 crane species in the world, nine are observed in The Chinese government has always attached great China (Su et al., 2000; Li, 2004). The red-crowned crane, importance to the protection of cranes. In recent years, Grus japonensis, and white-naped crane, G. vipio, are under the influence of sustainable and scientific devel- representative species in China and in the List of opment views, China ushered in a climate of change in Endangered and Protected Species of China (1988), they the development of laws and regulations regarding crane are designated, respectively, as first- and second-class conservation. For instance, a national strategy for bio- national protected animals. The red-crowned and the logical diversity, which indicated China’s overall goal of white-naped crane are species of large wading birds. protecting biodiversity up to 2030, was promulgated in Both have a similar habitat preference; usually nest and 2011. In the second half of 2014, the Environmental breed in large, open reed marsh; and feed on freshwater Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China, origi- fish, mollusks, and plant roots. These two species that nally promulgated in 1985, was completely revised, and breed on the Chinese mainland are migratory, and travel was enforced on January 1, 2015. Revision of the thousands of kilometers between their breeding and Wildlife Protection Law of the People’s Republic of wintering grounds. (Higuchi et al., 1996; 1998). Because China is underway at the time of writing. Applications wetlands are the main habitat of both species, for the designation of national parks and world heritage red-crowned and white- naped cranes are often used as sites in China are currently at the preparatory stage (Zhu, important indicator species in wetland ecological 2014). Under the background that the relevant policies evaluations (Li, 2004). So far, a number of studies have for crane conservation gradually improved, in order to been conducted on these two crane species (Su & Zou, protect integrity of red-crowned and white-naped cranes 2012). Because they have similar habits and habitat better, we need to comb the existing relevant research and preferences, some studies choose them comparing with intelligence, analyze the factors that may cause a nega- each other (Li & Li, 1999; Li & Liu, 2005; Zou & Wu, tive impact on crane population, and provide scientific 2006). Based on recent data, it is for sure that the number basis for formulating more reasonable protection coun- of red-crowned crane on the Chinese mainland has termeasures. declined considerably (Su & Zou, 2012; Li Y et al., 2012). Global Environmental Research ©2015 AIRIES 19/2015: 113-121 printed in Japan 114 K. SUN et al. Su et al. (2000) and Qian (2005) conducted macro users had reached 4,620 million. We adopted the follow- analyses on the distribution and population status of all ing two methods for collection of data between January crane species in China. Based on vast amounts of data 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2014: (1) 200 active bird acquired in recent years, Su & Zou (2012) systematically watchers were carefully selected from the list of SNS collated the distribution of red-crowned cranes and the registered users, and all information regarding poaching condition of their habitats. In order for policy-making to of migratory birds that was posted online by these users be effective in achieving conservation of cranes, a deeper was monitored throughout the study period; (2) keywords understanding of migration flyways, current status of were used to seek other information on migratory bird crane habitats, and existing issues surrounding protection capture, trafficking, transporting, purchasing, and con- of cranes is needed. To this end, we studied the migration sumption. Information was considered relevant if the and ecology of red-crowned and white-naped cranes, by following were detailed: a specific time, location, and collating satellite tracking results and relevant survey and clear images of the poaching event. crowd sourced wildlife data. Here, we present a review of the data on crane migration flyways and features of im- 3. Migration Flyways and Habitat Conditions portant habitats, and outline important issues surrounding conservation of red-crowned and white-naped cranes. By 3.1 Migration flyways and population status analyzing and understanding the current status of crane populations in China, we can better identify challenges to The red-crowned crane the conservation of these species, and make important The global population of the red-crowned crane is contributions to the establishment of effective crane approximately 2,800 individuals, divided into two en- conservation laws and regulations. tirely separate groups: island and continental subpopula- tions. The island subpopulation resides in Hokkaido in 2. Information Collection northern Japan. This subpopulation is non-migratory, and in 2008, was estimated at more than 1,300 birds Japanese, Russian, and American scientists used (Masatomi, 2008). The continental subpopulation com- satellites to track the migration of 18 red-crowned and 20 prises 1,500 birds (Su et al., 2000; Masatomi et al., 2004; white-naped cranes. Eleven of the 18 red-crowned cranes Su & Zou, 2012). This subpopulation is migratory, sum- were captured in a breeding ground along the Amur River mering in northeastern China, Russia, and Mongolia, and in Russia, and the other 7 along Lake Khanka on the wintering in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze border of Russia and China (Higuchi et al., 1998; Tamura Plain and the middle part of the Korean Peninsula along et al., 2000). Nine of the 20 white-naped cranes were the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) (Fig. 1, H). Because of captured in Izumi in Kyushu, Japan, between 1992 and these different wintering grounds, the continental sub- 1993 (Higuchi et al., 1996); the other 11 were captured in population is approximately divided into two separate Daursky, Khingansky or Muraviovka in Russia, between flyways: western (Fig. 1, α) and eastern flyways (Fig. 1, 1991 and 1993 (Higuchi et al., 2004). Information on the β) (Higuchi et al., 1998). migration flyways and critical habitats of these birds was In China, there are three main breeding grounds for obtained. Using these data, we have predicted the distri- the red-crowned crane: Hulu Lake and the surrounding bution of these two crane species. areas, where the borders of Russia, Mongolia and China Satellite tracking is an excellent research tool to study meet (Fig. 1, A); the Songnen Plain in the northeastern bird migration (Higuchi 2012, 2013), but the number of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jilin Province, individual animals used for tracking is small. In order to and western Heilongjiang Province (Fig. 1, B); and the determine the migration pattern, distribution, and abun- Sanjiang Plain in eastern Heilongjiang Province, and the dance of cranes more accurately, we collected observa- Amur Region in eastern Russia (Fig. 1, C) (Qian, 2005). tion records from various sources such as papers, reports, Birds in the continental subpopulation, which uses online data, and observations of bird watchers. Critical the western flyway, probably all migrate through habitats were assigned based on of revision of relevant Shuangtaihekou Nature Reserve (Fig. 1, D). Migrating information on crane habitats, such as land use change, red-crowned cranes have been observed each year from development history, and bird conservation status. 1991–2012 in the Shuangtaihekou Nature Reserve, in Bird poaching is common in China but there is little numbers ranging from 300 to 800, and the largest known study in this field. We used online databases and social