HCMC – Four red-headed cranes, scientifically known as Grus antigone sharpii, have been sighted at Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap after a two-year absence.
Doan Van Nhanh, deputy director of the Tram Chim National Park Conservation Center, said that a small flock of four cranes came to the park around noon on March 7, spending about 30 minutes searching for food before departing, said local news reports.
“It is common for a few cranes to scout an area before a larger flock comes and stays for the migration season,” Nhanh said, emphasizing that cranes are considered intuitive species preferring fresh and unpolluted environments.
Conservation center personnel are now closely monitoring the feeding areas and other designated zones where cranes were previously spotted, as well as adjacent areas.
The red-headed crane is a rare and endangered species listed in both Vietnam’s Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List.
In the past, red-headed cranes were spotted in Tram Chim in the period between old and new years. At times, the national park recorded approximately 1,000 of them, but the number has gradually declined over time.
In 2021, only three red-headed cranes were observed in the park, and none have returned since then.
