Two White-naped Cranes Remain at Suncheon Bay, Protected by Local Citizens

Release of Mudfish and Snails into Farmland
Restrictions on Human and Vehicle Access to Habitats

Suncheon City, a special integrated city comprising Jeonnam and Gwangju, is taking active measures to protect a pair of white-naped cranes staying at Suncheon Bay. The city is creating feeding grounds for the cranes together with local residents and is continuously monitoring their health.

The white-naped crane, designated as a Natural Monument, usually visits Suncheon Bay from mid-October to spend the cold winter and begins migrating northward from March of the following year. However, the city noted that a pair of cranes are still remaining at Suncheon Bay even though the overwintering period has long passed.

Two hooded cranes are resting at Suncheon Bay. Provided by Suncheon City.

According to the city, one of the two cranes has shown unusual behavior, such as increasing frequency and duration of sitting down in the paddy fields while feeding, making ongoing observation necessary.

To protect the cranes, the city released mudfish and snails into farmland together with citizens on July 11. It also plans to continue closely checking the health of the cranes, restrict access by people and vehicles to their habitats, and collaborate with the local community to make diverse efforts for their protection.

The city is checking the cranes' roosting sites, feeding grounds, and migration routes on a daily basis, observing their behavior, feeding activities, and stress responses, and carefully monitoring their health condition.

Notably, to help the crane experiencing discomfort rest safely, a shelter made from rice bran has been set up, and in cooperation with the wildlife rescue center, fecal tests are being conducted to check health condition. The city is also adhering to the principle of long-distance observation to prevent unnecessary stress and prioritizing minimizing disturbances in the surrounding area.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.