Observation of the world's remaining 4,000 Siberian whooping cranes in Gwangpo Bay, Sichuan

Siberian whooping cranes, an internationally endangered species, were observed in Gwangpo Bay, Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do.

According to the Sacheon Gwangpo Bay Wetland Conservation Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Conservation Committee) on the 9th, bird expert Byung-yeol Yoon discovered a Siberian whooping crane while exploring the Gwangpo Bay area on the 7th to prepare for citizen scientist training.

According to the Conservation Commission, the Siberian whooping crane is a rare bird with only about 4,000 remaining in the world. It is listed as a ‘critically endangered species’ (CR) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

The Conservation Commission explains that it is unusual for it to be observed in Gwangpo Bay, Sichuan, on the southern coast, as it mainly winters in the Yangtze River basin in China.

In Gwangpo Bay, which was designated as a wetland protection area in 2023, white-crowned cranes were first observed in December last year.

Currently, 18 white-naped cranes and 38 black-crowned cranes are also staying in Gwangpo Bay.

It was found that 7 whooper swans, 14 black-faced spoonbills, and 12 large wild geese were feeding in Gwangpo Bay and the nearby fields.

The Conservation Committee plans to continuously observe the habitat environment of rare birds that visit Gwangpo Bay and preserve the ecological value.