Red-crowned cranes return to Tram Chim National Forest (Photo: VNA)DongThap (VNA) – Four red-crowned cranes were spotted at theTram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on March 7,the forest’s management board has reported.
The birds stayed on the feeding ground in Zone A5 for about 30 minutes then flew towards Zone A4 in thepark. The park has sent specialised staff to monitor around the clock at A5 feedingarea and other zones where the birds used to feed.
Thepark has also assigned security personnel to regularly patrol around the area toprevent people from entering the place to exploit the park’s resources, affectingthe habitat of red-crowned cranes.
Besides,the national park will increase secondary food source such as rice for red-crowned cranes inorder to attract more cranes to the area. The unit is continuing toimplement technical measures to restore the park’s ecosystem, creatingfavourable conditions for red-crowned cranes to find food.
The last time when red-crowned cranes returnedto Tram Chim National Park was in 2021 and there were only three individuals.The red-crowned crane is a rare species, named in the World Red Book as in an endangered state and in need of protection; it is a symbol of Tram ChimNational Park in particular and of Dong Thap province in general.
The People’s Committee of the Mekong Deltaprovince of Dong Thap has approved a project to conserve red-crowned cranes inthe Tram Chim National Park in the 2022 –2032 period with an estimated total budget of over 184 billion VND (nearly 7.6million USD).
The project will focus on receiving, caring, studying, andreintroducing the birds; improving and restoring their ecosystems and habitats;developing sustainable ecological agricultural production models; and investing ininfrastructure and facilities.
The project will play a crucial role in preserving thepopulation of the birds in the Mekong Delta region which is facing the risk ofextinction, thus demonstrating Vietnam's commitment and responsibility whenparticipating in international institutions.
It aims to revive the flocks at the park through a process ofbreeding and natural reintroduction and restore the wetland habitat for manyother species, contributing to preserving biodiversity and the cultural andspiritual life of the local community.
The project will be a joint effort by the provincial People’sCommittee, the Vietnam Zoos Association (VZA), the International CraneFoundation (ICF), and the Zoological Park Organization (ZPO) of Thailand,which has been successful in the work./.
