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Grus antigone
– Vulnerable
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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AVES
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Order:
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GRUIFORMES
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Family:
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GRUIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Grus antigone
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Species Authority:
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(Linnaeus, 1758)
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Common Name/s:
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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VU A2cde+3cde+4cde ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2007
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Assessor/s:
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BirdLife International
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Evaluator/s:
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Bird, J. & Butchart, S. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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This crane is listed as Vulnerable because it has suffered a rapid population decline, which is projected to continue, as a result of widespread reductions in the extent and quality of its wetland habitats, exploitation and the effects of pollutants.
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History:
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| 1988 | - | Lower Risk/least concern (BirdLife International 2004) |
| 1994 | - | Lower Risk/near threatened (Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield 1994) |
| 2000 | - | Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2000) |
| 2004 | - | Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2004) |
| 2006 | - | Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2006) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Grus antigone has three disjunct populations in the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia and northern Australia. The nominate race (c. 8,000 to 10,000 birds) inhabits Pakistan, northern and central India, and Nepal, with occasional vagrants in Bangladesh. Subspecies sharpii occurs in South-East Asia where its range has declined dramatically and it is now confined to Cambodia, extreme southern Laos, south Vietnam (c.800-1,000 birds between these three countries4), and Myanmar (c.500-800 birds4). The Australian population (gilliae) is estimated at less than 10,000 individuals2,3. It is extinct in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and probably China.
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Range Map:
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 (click for detailed map)
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Countries:
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Native:
Australia; Cambodia; India; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Viet Nam
Vagrant:
Bangladesh
Regionally extinct:
Malaysia; Philippines; Thailand
Possibly extinct regionally:
China
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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It inhabits wet and dry grasslands, agricultural fields, marshes and pools, either open or enclosed by forest. It prefers a mixture of flooded, partially flooded and dry ground for foraging, roosting and nesting. In the Indian subcontinent, populations make seasonal movements in response to monsoons and droughts. Cambodian breeding populations spend the non-breeding season in the Mekong delta region of Vietnam.
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System:
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Terrestrial; Freshwater
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Threats
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Threats:
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The main threats are a combination of loss and degradation of wetlands, as a result of drainage and conversion to agriculture, wetland pollution from pesticides, fertilisers and industrial effluent, siltation owing to catchment deforestation and river basin alterations, and the hunting of adults and collection of eggs and chicks (particularly in Indo-China but increasingly in India) for trade, food, medicinal purposes and, in some areas, to control populations where it is considered a crop pest. The other significant widespread threat is human disturbance of wetlands. Collision with powerlines is a minor threat in parts of the range1.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Conservation measures underway:
CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. Key protected areas are Ang Trapeang Thmor, Cambodia, and Tram Chim National Park, Vietnam, which seasonally support the majority of the Indo-Chinese population. Conservation awareness campaigns have been initiated in India, Nepal, Laos and Cambodia. A national census has recently been conducted in India.
Conservation measures proposed:
Conduct further surveys in north Cambodia, south Laos and south Vietnam to identify key sites. Regulate access to important nesting-grounds during the breeding season and important permanent wetlands in the dry season. Control pesticide use and industrial effluent disposal around feeding areas. Upgrade to CITES Appendix I, and strictly control international trade. Target further conservation awareness campaigns at communities in and around important sites.
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