bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

As the sun came up, 13 Thai Eastern Sarus cranes were released over a rippling reservoir in northeast Thailand, the latest effort to revive the almost-extinct species in the kingdom.
More commonly known as Thai cranes, the birds nearly disappeared from the country roughly 50 years ago – they were last spotted in the wild in 1968 – before a collaboration between the Thai government, Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo and United Nations to save them.
A breeding programme, using fowl donated by Cambodia, began in 1989, with the first reintroduction in 2011.
Sarus cranes are classed by the ICNC as “vulnerable”, with an estimated 15,000 remaining in the wild – with the Thai subspecies having been thought to have disappeared from Thailand’s wild wetlands.
Saving sparrows and black kites one nest at a time: the bird men of Delhi
But since 2011, more than 150 captively-bred birds – which can grow to up to six feet (1.8m) and weigh almost seven kilograms (15 pounds) – have been released in Buriram province.
“It is the only place where the Thai cranes are able to live and reproduce on their own,” said Governor Chaiwat Chuntirapong.
The birds were transported in large, specially adapted boxes – their red-feathered heads watching through mesh windows – from the Wetland and Eastern Sarus Crane Conservation Centre where they were bred to the Huai Chorakhe Mak Reservoir.
The latest flock of 13 cranes were released all at once on Christmas Day. The tall birds loudly honked and clumsily flapped as they unsteadily took to the skies accompanied by cheering children and spectators.
It was the final moment in a long journey for the researchers, who carefully nurtured the cranes from hatching, gradually introduced them to the wild and then took them to their final flight to freedom.

“The herdsman wears a suit that hides her body and wears a bird’s head puppet on her hands to teach the birds everything from feeding to familiarising them with nature,” said Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo researcher Tanat Uttaraviset.
As a result of the long process, roughly 60 to 70 per cent of the birds survive in the wild, he said.
Before their release, each bird is microchipped and tagged, allowing researchers to track them and improve the conservation efforts.
As well as rearing and releasing the cranes, an important part of the programme has been educating people about the species and the environment.

Huai Chorakhe Mak Reservoir was chosen partly thanks to its natural proliferation of water chestnuts – an important food source for cranes in the dry season.
But their habitat remains threatened by the “widespread invasion of agriculture”, said director of Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo Thanachon Kensing.
The zoo has established a learning centre, teaching tourists and locals about how to better care for the environment the birds need to survive.
“Changing villagers’ attitudes is difficult,” Thanachon admitted.
“But if we can communicate with them … this project will be successful,” he said.
Watching his red-headed charges soar off over the sparkling waters, researcher Tanat had just one hope.
“The ultimate goal is to secure the crane population,” he said.


39 foreigners escape Myanmar online scam centre, cross into Thailand amid trafficking concerns

Igniv Bangkok chef showcases Thai ingredients in chocolate soufflé and chilli langoustine

‘Goofy’ golden tiger at Thai zoo captures hearts, emerging as next star after hippo Moo Deng

AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes on being ‘loyal to China’, Comac’s allure and Asean expansion

Thailand

How Thailand brought rare Eastern Sarus cranes back from brink of extinction

A pair of Eastern Sarus cranes after being released in Buriram. Photo: AFP

A female Eastern Sarus crane in Buriram, Thailand. Photo: AFP

Eastern Sarus cranes flying away after being released in Buriram. Photo: AFP

Park rangers and staff from the Zoological Park Organisation carrying Eastern Sarus cranes via transport boxes in preparation for their release at the Huai Chorakhe Mak Huai Reservoir in Buriram. Photo: AFP

The bird men of Delhi, saving sparrows, black kites and ‘All That Breathes’ one nest at a time

A bird nest made by Rakesh Khatri. Photo: Handout

Rakesh Khatri, India’s ‘Nest Man’ making a nest. Photo: Avantika Mehta

Rakesh Khatri at his home. Photo: Avantika Mehta

Saud of Wildlifre Rescue working on an injured bird. Photo: Handout

Birds at the Wildlife Rescue offices. Photo: Avantika Mehta

Malaysia’s indigenous Orang Asli call for end to logging amid fears for endangered tigers

The villagers of Kampung Mesau in Malaysia’s Pahang erected a blockade to save their forests from loggers. Photo: Yao-Hua Law/Macaranga

A tiger paw print was found near a village east of YP Olio’s site in 2020. Photo: Handout

Pahang’s prince-regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah. Photo: Instagram

In Indonesia, conservationists are hoping to save tigers by giving poachers new jobs

Indonesian authorities burn illegal tiger skins in March 2022. Photo: Hafidz Trijatnika

Mawi used to be a ‘feared tiger hunter’, but now he has changed his ways. Photo: Hafidz Trijatnika

Mawi works with the Smart Patrol Team to clear tiger slings in the forest. Photo: Hafidz Trijatnika

News

Asia

Southeast Asia


The birds nearly disappeared from the country roughly 50 years ago before a partnership between a Thai zoo and UN to save them
Recently a flock of 13 cranes, which can grow to up to six feet, were released in Buriram province – the latest effort to revive the feathered species



The birds nearly disappeared from the country roughly 50 years ago before a partnership between a Thai zoo and UN to save them.


Conservation

Environment

How Thailand brought rare Eastern Sarus cranes back from brink of extinction

The birds nearly disappeared from the country roughly 50 years ago before a partnership between a Thai zoo and UN to save them Recently a flock of 13 cranes, which can grow to up to six feet, were released in Buriram province – the latest effort to revive the feathered species

The birds nearly disappeared from the country roughly 50 years ago before a partnership between a Thai zoo and UN to save them

Recently a flock of 13 cranes, which can grow to up to six feet, were released in Buriram province – the latest effort to revive the feathered species