Black-necked cranes coexist peacefully with humans

The black-necked crane, a rare species under China’s highest national protection, has lived in harmony with local residents in Xizang Autonomous Region due to conservation efforts by authorities and community care. Each autumn, over 1,000 cranes arrive in Jianda village, Shigatse City, for their exclusive wintering grounds. 

The village has a long tradition of coexistence with the birds, where cranes and farmers share the land peacefully. Known as the “panda of birds,” black-necked cranes inhabit high-altitude wetlands on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. 

Their presence indicates a healthy plateau ecosystem. Xizang has prioritized ecological conservation, establishing 47 nature reserves covering over 400,000 square kilometers. The region protects more than 1,000 terrestrial wild vertebrates, including 246 species under special state protection.