The Red-crowned Crane in the Korean DMZ

The Red-crowned Crane in the Korean DMZ

Since the armistice signed at the end of the Korean War, the 155-mile-long strip of land separating North Korea and South Korea known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the Civilian Control Line (CCL) or Civilian Control Zone (CCZ) have seen sparse human activity and development.  Being nearly untouched by humans, the DMZ has become an accidental home to a thriving ecosystem and a refuge for various animal and plant species. With improving diplomatic relations between North and South Korea, environmentalist communities are raising concerns about the future of the ecosystem within the DMZ. The improving diplomatic conditions could lead to development in the currently-untouched area, threatening the habitat of the many species. 

ABOUT THE SPECIES: RED-CROWNED CRANE

One of many sensitive species residing in the DMZ is the Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis). The Red-crowned Crane is one of the rarest large-bird species and is categorized as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  The number of mature individuals is estimated to be 1,830 (as of the most recent 2016 assessment) and the population trend is decreasing. Migratory populations of this species are known to flock to the DMZ and surrounding areas during wintering months, where populations rely on the area for proper habitat and food sources.

The Red-crowned Crane is a semi-aquatic omnivorous bird found in wetland habitats between East Asia and Russia. The species is divided into continental and island populations with continental groups further divided by geographically separated wintering areas. Two significant populations of the bird include a resident population on the Japanese Island of Hokkaido and a migratory population that resides in wetlands in the East-Asian mainland during breeding months and migrates to marshes in China, Russia, Japan, and Korea during the winter, including the middle part of the Korean Peninsula, along the DMZ and the eastern coastal intertidal wetlands of China, primarily at Yancheng in Jiangsu Province. 

Red-crowned Cranes fish and hunt for small animals and feed marsh plants such as reeds, grasses, and berries. The crane population residing in the DMZ is unique in its reliance on parts of the CCZ for food, particularly the areas that see heavier agricultural use, where farmers tend to acres of rice paddies inside the perimeter. During winter months, the Red-crowned Crane uses these agricultural lands as a necessary feeding ground, as they contain more abundant food sources than the DMZ.

Red-crowned Cranes spend roughly 60% of their time resting and preening. Like most crane species, they exhibit a dance-like behavior of jerky bouncing, leaping, and running with outstretched wings. These behaviors serve a variety of purposes, including exercising with chicks, pair-bonding, thwarting aggressors, and simulating reproductive conditions. Red-crowned Cranes are also monogamous birds, commonly selecting a single mate throughout their entire lifespan.

The Red-crowned Crane is culturally significant in east-Asian countries like China and Japan, marking good fortune.  It frequently appears in Chinese myth and legends, with the Red-crowned Crane being the national bird of China. The Red-crowned Crane is also featured in the logo of Japan Airlines and in South Korea the crane is featured on the 500-won coin. The monogamous nature of the crane and its ability to fly long migratory distances also makes it a symbol of loyalty, strength, and lasting endurance. 

THREATS

    The primary threat to the Red-crowned Crane is habitat loss and degradation. Human activity including land development, changes in agricultural practices, pollution, and environmental contamination are propelling these threats. More recently, there have been growing concerns of these threats in one of the wintering ranges for the migratory population within the DMZ. 

The DMZ-wintering population of the Red-crowned Crane has benefited from the lack of human activity in the area. However, growing diplomacy between North Korea and South Korea have caused both countries to reduce military operations in the area, with the two governments beginning a joint project in 2018 to remove landmines from the area. The military reduction in the region has spurred the introduction of development plans for the zone, including hiking trails and opening up the DMZ to tourism. Other projects in the area would include roads and railways, and eventually, the possible development of the Civilian Control Zone.

LEGAL PROTECTIONS

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Red-crowned Crane is listed as a protected species under CITES Appendix I, giving the species the greatest level of protection.  Appendix I of CITES includes species that are threatened with extinction and prohibits any commercial trade. 

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

The CMS recognizes the Red-crowned Crane as a migratory species threatened with extinction as under both Appendix I and Appendix II. Appendix I includes species that have been assessed as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range. Appendix II includes species that have an unfavorable conservation status requiring international agreements for their conservation management and those species that would significantly benefit from international cooperation that could be achieved by an international agreement. The Red-crowned Crane’s geographic range includes the following Range States that are parties to the CMS: China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, and Russian Federation. 

NECESSARY ACTION

To ensure the survival of this species, healthy crane populations and habitats need to be protected across the entire geographic range. Development and removal of landmines in the DM stemming from easing tensions between North Korea and South Korea could be detrimental to this species and need to be limited in order to preserve these habitats. Organizations such as the DMZ Ecology Research Institute are advising government entities on where to best develop so to not disrupt wildlife. As a joint effort with North Korea, the South Korean government has been advocating to have the DMZ recognized as a biosphere through UNESCO. Should the area be recognized as such, it would require a wide buffer zone that limits development in areas alongside the DMZ. Limiting development in this area would be a monumental step in conserving the Red-crowned Crane as well as the multitude of other species living in the DMZ. 

REFERENCES

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Lee, S.D., Jabłoński, P.G. and Higuchi, H., 2007. Effect of heterospecifics on foraging of endangered red-crowned and white-naped cranes in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Ecological Research, 22(4), p.635.

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National Public Radio, n.d.. In Korean DMZ, Wildlife Thrives. Some Conservationists Worry Peace Could Disrupt It, viewed 28 November, 2020, <https://www.npr.org/2019/04/20/710054899/in-korean-dmz-wildlife-thrives-some-conservationists-worry-peace-could-disrupt-i?fbclid=IwAR0Le_r67ak6b69CwIDGKgA7DQ1l5s-j6jsztHd6GORObS1SRYaUKkXXvYo>.

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Species+, n.d.. Grus japonensis, viewed 28 November, 2020, <https://speciesplus.net/#/taxon_concepts/3364/legal>.

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