Current Status of Grus japonensis, G. vipio and G. monacha in the Asian Continent

Abstract

The current status of the three species of cranes in the Asian Continent, Grus japonensis, G. vipio and G. monacha that can also be seen in large numbers in Japan is interpreted in this papar with reference to the new literatures of Soviet Union, Korea and China listed in the bibliography.1. Grus japonensis (Japanese Crane)The breeding grounds of this species in the Soviet Union are the middle courses of the River Amur and the River Ussuri, and the east shore of the Lake Khanka. The total number of the Japanese Cranes that can be seen in these places during the breeding season is approximately 80. Also, there are few breeding grounds along the bank of the River Sungari but the exact number is not yet reported. These Japanese Cranes are migratory birds and about half of them seem to pass the winter in Korea, and the remaining half in the East China.2. Grus vipio (White-naped Crane)The breeding grounds of the White-naped Cranes that have been confirmed recently are the marshlands around the central part of the Primorskij Kraj and the middle courses of the River Amur, and also around Jaranton at the northwest of Manchuria. However, the number of this species that come to these breeding grounds is much fewer that those that come to the wintering ground. Therefore, there seem to be several other breeding grounds that are still unknown.Both the Chinese and the Russian ornithologists unanimously presume that there might be breeding grounds somewhere around the east shore of the Lake Baikal, and also around the River Kerulen and the basin of the River Onon in Mongolia.All the White-naped Cranes mentioned above are migratory birds. Approximately 2700 of them first come to the central part of Korea, especially around the lower courses of the Namhangang. Most of these birds stay in the west coast of the Central Korea, but a part of them come to Arasaki in Japan. Recently, the number of White-naped Cranes that come to Arasaki has increased enormously. This seems to be because the mud flats of the West coast of Korea which are the wintering ground of this species have been narrowed by the reclamation work.3. Grus monacha (Hooded Crane)Few Hooded Cranes seem to breed in the Chinese territory at the right bank of the River Ussuri, but the majority of them breed within the Russian territory, such as the place between the basin of the River Tungska, the tributary of the River Jenisej, and the tributary of the River Lena, and especially around the basin of the River Viljini and the Olekno-Charekoe Plateau. A part of them also breed around the middle courses of the River Amur and the River Ussuri. The breeding areas extend over 2000km from east to west and 1500km from north to south. Nearly 2800 Hooded Cranes that breed in these areas come to such place as Arasaki in Japan through Manchuria and Primorskij Kraj to pass the winter. However, they are very rarely seen or collected in China and Korea, so the course of their migration will be the important subject for the future studies.Since it was made clear that almost all the Hooded Cranes winter in Japan, it must be recognized anew that Japan has a great responsibility in preserving this species.