Wildlife Alliance

Eastern Sarus Crane (Grus antigone sharpii)

Status: Vulnerable

Habitat Range:

The Eastern Sarus Crane occurs throughout Indochina, though its numbers have dropped significantly in the last 50 years. It's still had small populations in Myanmar, Vietnam and most notably Cambodia, where its last major breeding ground is. It's populations in China and Thailand have been all but virtually decimated.

Numbers Left in the Wild: 20,000

Primary Threats:

Wetland loss and degradation remain the main threat to the Eastern Sarus Crane. According to the International Crane Foundation heavy chick loss because of the wildlife trade is currently limiting its population numbers; as well as the destruction of wetlands due to agricultural expansion, which is increasing dramatically and poses a significant threat as well. These threats reflect increasing human population pressures.

What we are doing to help:

• Wildlife Alliance's Care for Rescued Wildlife Program, at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, with the support of Sea World Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, built a water bird aviary to take care of water birds rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.
  
  
• While Wildlife Alliance is heavily invested in stopping the illegal trade of these endangered and threatened species throughout Southeast Asia, we also are taking proactive measures to protect their nesting habitats in Lomphat National Park, Cambodia.