Grey Crowned Craneホオジロカンムリヅル

Balearica regulorumEN— Endangered

The grey crowned crane is a striking African crane crowned with a fan of stiff golden feathers, the national bird of Uganda. Unlike most cranes, it can roost in trees thanks to a specialized hind toe, but habitat drainage, overgrazing, and pesticide pollution have pushed the species to Endangered status.

Grey Crowned Crane (reference photo)
Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Gruiformes / Gruidae Source
Size
Total length about 100 cm
Weight
About 3.5 kg
Lifespan
No detailed records available
Diet
Omnivore Omnivorous, eating insects and other arthropods, small mammals, fruit, and seeds
Distribution
Found across sub-Saharan Africa, from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda through Kenya to South Africa, with populations also in Angola and Namibia; it is the national bird of Uganda. Source
Sources
ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

  • Thanks to a specialized hind toe, it is one of only two crane species—alongside the black crowned crane—that can roost in trees. Source
  • It has a distinctive foraging technique of stamping the ground to flush out startled prey, then catching it—a behavior uncommon among other crane species. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 12

Adventure WorldWakayamaOpened in 1978

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Ishikawa DoubutsuenIshikawaAbout 60 minutes from the Kanazawa-Morimoto Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway, about 40 minutes from the Kanazawa-Nishi Interchange, and about 20 minutes from the Komatsu Interchange.

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Izu Shaboten ZooShizuokaOpened in 1959

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Kiryuugaoka DoubutsuenGunmaIf driving, set your car navigation to "Kiryugaoka Amusement Park" (Kiryugaoka Yuenchi) rather than "Kiryugaoka Zoo" to reach the parking lot (searching by the zoo name may give an incorrect route).

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Hirakawa ZooKagoshimaAbout a 20-minute walk from Goino Station on the JR Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line, or take a bus bound for Taniyama / Dobutsuen from Fukuhira Nokyo-mae to the last stop.

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Matsue Vogel ParkShimaneOpened in 2001

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Suzaka ZooNaganoFrom the Suzaka-Nagano-Higashi IC on the Joshin-etsu Expressway, take Route 403, turn right at the Kotaka-machi intersection, turn left at the Kami-Hatcho intersection, cross Garyu Bridge, and turn left for the south entrance.

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Chiba Zoological ParkChibaOpened in 1985

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Tennoji ZooOsakaOpened in 1915

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Fukuoka Zoo & Botanical GardenFukuokaOpened in 1953

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Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

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Wakayamajou Kouen DoubutsuenWakayamaOpened in 1919

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Latest news

2

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Endangered (EN)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Why is the grey crowned crane special among cranes?
It is one of only two crane species that can roost in trees, made possible by a long hind toe that lets it grip branches, unlike most cranes which must roost on the ground or in water. Source
Why is the grey crowned crane endangered?
Wetland drainage, overgrazing, and pesticide pollution have degraded its habitat across sub-Saharan Africa, and its global population is estimated at only 58,000 to 77,000 individuals. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 12 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org