As the weather warms up, the Black-necked Crane National Nature Reservein the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley becomes lively, and the black-necked cranes that have been wintering there begin their spring migration.

The black-necked crane, known as the "plateau crane," is the only crane species in the world that breeds and lives on plateaus. It is classified as a national first-class key protected wild animal. Their primary habitat is on plateau meadows and marshlands at altitudes ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 meters. In Xizang, they can be found across 55 counties, primarily inhabiting wetlands such as rivers, lakes, marshes, and meadows, with the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley serving as their wintering ground.

Every March to April, black-necked cranes fly off into the distance in neat formations, their departure seemingly announcing the end of the winter on the plateau. Before setting off, they forage frequently in wetlands and farmland, storing as much energy as possible.

Yang Le, deputy director and associate researcher at the Xizang Autonomous Region Institute of Plateau Biology, said that there are three migration routes for black-necked cranes. The first route starts from central and eastern Qinghai Province and heads to the Napahai-Lashihai area in northwest Yunnan Province for wintering. The second route is from the Ruoergai Wetland in northwest Sichuan Province to Dashanbao in Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, and Caohai in Guizhou Province for wintering. The third route refers to black-necked cranes that winter in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley in Xizang Autonomous Region, most of which will fly to the Serling Tso Black-necked Crane National Nature Reserve, the Qiangtang National Nature Reserve, as well as Gansu, Qinghai, and other places for breeding. In recent years, the existence of a westward migration route along the Yarlung Zangbo River has been further confirmed.

With the improvement of the ecological environment in Xizang and the enhancement of people's awareness of wildlife protection, the population of black-necked cranes is gradually increasing. In 2000, the number of black-necked cranes in Xizang was about 4,000. Now, the number has exceeded 10,000.

Reporter: Wang Jing

Photo: Yu Shuran

Translator: Zhi Xinghua, Jia Dan

Review: Hu Rongguo, Dong Xiuli