Oriental Storkコウノトリ

Ciconia boycianaEN— Endangered

The Oriental stork is a large, endangered stork closely related to the white stork, found in Japan, China, Korea, and Siberia. It is a carnivorous hunter of fish, frogs, snakes, and small mammals in wetlands and rice paddies. Once extinct in the wild in Japan, it has been reestablished there through captive breeding and release programs, with a wild-hatched chick recorded in 2007 for the first time in 40 years.

Oriental Stork (reference photo)
Photo: spaceaero2 / CC BY 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Ciconiiformes / Ciconiidae Source
Size
Total length 110–115 cm, wingspan about 195 cm
Weight
3–5 kg
Lifespan
Captive: average about 35 years. Lifespan in the wild is unknown
Diet
Carnivore Carnivorous, eating fish, frogs, snakes, bird eggs and chicks, rodents, and insects
Distribution
Found in Japan, China, Korea, and Siberia; formerly extirpated from Japan and the Korean Peninsula, the species is now the focus of active reintroduction programs in both countries. Source
Sources
ja.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

  • With an underdeveloped syrinx, adults do not vocalize; instead they rapidly clap their bills together in a behavior called "clattering" to express threat or courtship. Source
  • A wild hatchling was reported in Japan for the first time in 40 years in May 2007, following captive breeding and release programs. Source
  • South Korea has around 130 birds as of 2026 following reintroduction efforts. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 7

Saitamakenkodomodoubutsu Shizen KouenSaitamaOpened in 1980

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OJI ZOOHyogo3 minutes on foot west from Oji-Koen Station on the Hankyu line.

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Tennoji ZooOsakaOpened in 1915

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Fukuoka Zoo & Botanical GardenFukuokaOpened in 1953

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Ueno ZooTokyoOpened in 1882

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Tama ZooTokyoOpened in 1958

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Nonhoi ParkAichiAbout a 6-minute walk from the South Exit of Futagawa Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line.

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Endangered (EN)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

A visit is a small, positive way to support the daily lives of the animals you care about.

Visit
A visit itself helps support the facility.
Animal Supporter Programs & Giving
Find ways to support the facility through its official website.
Furusato Nozei
Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.

FAQ

How can you tell an Oriental stork from a white stork?
The Oriental stork is larger than the white stork and has red skin around its eyes with a black bill, rather than a red bill. Source
Did the Oriental stork go extinct in Japan?
Yes, wild Oriental storks disappeared from Japan, but captive breeding and release programs led to a wild-hatched chick being recorded in 2007 for the first time in 40 years. Source
Why doesn't the Oriental stork call like other birds?
Its syrinx is poorly developed, so adults rarely vocalize; instead they communicate through "bill clattering," rapidly snapping their bills together for threat displays and courtship. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 7 Source

Books & gear

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