Black-necked cranes wintering in southwest China hit record high

(ECNS) -- The number of black-necked cranes wintering in Napa Lake Nature Reserve, located in southwest China's Yunnan Province, has reached 562, marking a record high since 2022, local authorities announced on Thursday.

The black-necked crane, a species under first-class state protection in China, mainly inhabits plateau meadows and marshes at an altitude of 2,500 to 5,000 meters.

Every September, flocks of black-necked cranes from southeastern Qinghai and western Sichuan migrate to wintering sites such as Napa Lake, departing by the following May.

In recent years, strengthened conservation efforts and ongoing environmental improvements at Napa Lake have led to a steady increase in the number of black-necked cranes wintering in the area, from just 61 in 1984 to a record high of 510 cranes in 2022.

Notably, over the past two years, some black-necked cranes have started to remain through the summer, highlighting the success of the region's conservation efforts.

In 1984, Napa Lake was established as a provincial nature reserve. Covering an area of 2,400 hectares, it is home to state-protected species, including black-necked cranes, black storks, ernes, and grey cranes. It was designated in 2004 as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.