Grus nigricollis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	GRUIFORMES	GRUIDAE

Scientific Name:

Grus nigricollis

Species Authority:

Przevalski, 1876

Common Name/s:

English	–	Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Crane
Spanish	–	Grulla Cuellinegra

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(ii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S., Bird, J., Chan, S.

Contributor/s:

Chan, S., Harris, J.

Justification:
This species is classified as Vulnerable because it has a single small population that is declining owing to the loss and degradation of wetlands, and changing agricultural practices in both its breeding and wintering grounds. However, the population has apparently increased in recent years, and if these increases prove to be genuine and sustained then downlisting to a lower category of threat may be appropriate.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2006	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Grus nigricollis breeds on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, China, with a small population in adjacent Ladakh, India. Six wintering areas have been identified at lower altitudes on the Qinghai-Tibet and Yunnan-Guizhou plateaus, China, including counts of 3,562 birds in Yunnan and western Guizhou in winter 2003¹ and, in Tibet, 4,277 in 1999¹ increasing to 6,940 in 2007³. It also winters in Bhutan (500 individuals), and Arunachal Pradesh, India (10 individuals) and small numbers have been recorded in Vietnam³. These figures imply a total world population of approximately 11,000 individuals³, although it is estimated that the number of mature individuals is perhaps 8,800⁴. Evidence from Tibet, and a long term study at Cao Hai, Guihou², indicates that the population may be increasing in line with conservation efforts and changing attitudes, but it is not known whether these figures represent short-term population peaks, or long-term trends.
Countries:	Native: Bhutan; China; India; Viet Nam Vagrant: Nepal
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	In China, counts of 3,562 birds in Yunnan and western Guizhou in winter 2003 and, in Tibet, of 6,940 in 2007; in Bhutan 500 individuals, and Arunachal Pradesh, India 10 individuals. These figures imply a total world population of approximately 11,000 individuals, although it is estimated that the number of mature individuals is perhaps 8,800. (Harris in litt 2007).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

In China, counts of 3,562 birds in Yunnan and western Guizhou in winter 2003 and, in Tibet, of 6,940 in 2007; in Bhutan 500 individuals, and Arunachal Pradesh, India 10 individuals. These figures imply a total world population of approximately 11,000 individuals, although it is estimated that the number of mature individuals is perhaps 8,800. (Harris in litt 2007).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It breeds in alpine bog meadows and riverine marshes, favouring lacustrine marshes from 2,600-4,900 m. It winters in river valleys and along reservoir shorelines in the vicinity of barley and spring wheat fields.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Intensive grazing and pesticide use has caused degradation of grasslands in the Zoige breeding grounds, China. In central Tibet, farmers are increasingly planting high yield winter wheat rather than traditional crops. Ploughing in autumn rather than spring has reduced the availability of grain on cultivated land. The drying-up of marshes and desertification as a result of surrounding development and agriculture is affecting some breeding sites. Mechanised farming and draining of wetlands are threats in Bhutan. A dam planned on the Lhasa river threatens wintering birds. Fish-farming, peat and firewood collection and construction of roads have resulted in increased disturbance and habitat degradation in Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan, China. The collection of eggs and poaching are problems in parts of China and India. A small number of birds have been killed after striking power lines⁵. Climate change scenarios suggest that glacier melt as well as changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration are likely to lead to substantially reduced breeding habitat (wetlands) within high altitude breeding range of the species⁴. For example, at the key breeding area of Ruoergai in Sichuan and Gansu, 6 of 17 lakes >6.67 ha have already dried completely during 1985-2000, and the size of the other 11 lakes has decreased to different degrees⁴.

Major Threat(s):

Intensive grazing and pesticide use has caused degradation of grasslands in the Zoige breeding grounds, China. In central Tibet, farmers are increasingly planting high yield winter wheat rather than traditional crops. Ploughing in autumn rather than spring has reduced the availability of grain on cultivated land. The drying-up of marshes and desertification as a result of surrounding development and agriculture is affecting some breeding sites. Mechanised farming and draining of wetlands are threats in Bhutan. A dam planned on the Lhasa river threatens wintering birds. Fish-farming, peat and firewood collection and construction of roads have resulted in increased disturbance and habitat degradation in Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan, China. The collection of eggs and poaching are problems in parts of China and India. A small number of birds have been killed after striking power lines⁵. Climate change scenarios suggest that glacier melt as well as changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration are likely to lead to substantially reduced breeding habitat (wetlands) within high altitude breeding range of the species⁴. For example, at the key breeding area of Ruoergai in Sichuan and Gansu, 6 of 17 lakes >6.67 ha have already dried completely during 1985-2000, and the size of the other 11 lakes has decreased to different degrees⁴.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I and II. CMS Appendix I and II. It is legally protected in China, India and Bhutan. Major breeding and wintering areas are protected in China. There have been conservation and development programmes in local communities at the important sites of Cao Hai and Dashanbao. The Indian breeding population occurs in the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. Shooting of cranes and other wildlife in the region has been substantially reduced due to control of firearms, better enforcement of wildlife protection laws and greater awareness⁴. Conservation Actions Proposed Continue to study its migration. Establish a new protected area at Lashi Hai (China). Designate breeding areas in Ladakh (India) as waterbird sanctuaries. Stop drainage of marshes and the use of pesticides and rodenticides at Zoige marshes (China). Maintain water-levels of wetlands at Cao Hai (China) and prohibit encroachment. Leave some harvested fields unploughed in the wintering grounds between November-March.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II. CMS Appendix I and II. It is legally protected in China, India and Bhutan. Major breeding and wintering areas are protected in China. There have been conservation and development programmes in local communities at the important sites of Cao Hai and Dashanbao. The Indian breeding population occurs in the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. Shooting of cranes and other wildlife in the region has been substantially reduced due to control of firearms, better enforcement of wildlife protection laws and greater awareness⁴.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to study its migration. Establish a new protected area at Lashi Hai (China). Designate breeding areas in Ladakh (India) as waterbird sanctuaries. Stop drainage of marshes and the use of pesticides and rodenticides at Zoige marshes (China). Maintain water-levels of wetlands at Cao Hai (China) and prohibit encroachment. Leave some harvested fields unploughed in the wintering grounds between November-March.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Grus nigricollis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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