The red-crowned crane is a majestic bird that is considered a flagship species for the wetland ecosystem. With a body length of about 160 cm, a wingspan of 240 cm, and a weight of about 7000-10500 grams, the red-crowned crane is one of the largest and most striking birds in the world.

The whole body of the crane is almost pure white, and the top of the head is bare and featherless, which is vermilion.

Breeding grounds are an essential habitat for red-crowned cranes, where they generally choose to live in reed swamps with stagnant water, or swampy meadows with seasonal stagnant water, and most nest in reed swamps.

In wintering grounds, they can be found in mud flats, rice fields, and reed swamps. Red-crowned cranes have a wide range of food habits, such as insects, fish, shrimp and crabs, shellfish, snails, and even plant roots. During different seasons, they eat seeds and seedlings from farmland.

Red-crowned cranes often move in pairs, family groups, and small groups. During migration season and winter, they form larger groups, sometimes numbering as many as 40-50, or even more than 100 families. At night, they mostly inhabit shoals surrounded by water or reed ponds, and they still disperse according to family groups.

In Japan, the red-crowned crane holds a high status. They are considered mascots that bring good luck and happiness. Additionally, in Japanese traditional culture, red-crowned cranes symbolize love, purity, and loyalty. Their beauty and elegance have been admired for centuries and continue to inspire people to this day.

The red-crowned crane is not only a symbol of cultural significance but also of scientific research value. They play an essential role in the maintenance and stability of the ecological environment, and they are an important biological indicator species.

Through the study of red-crowned cranes, scientists can gain an in-depth understanding of the physiology, behavior, evolution, and other aspects of birds, which is of great significance to the study of biology.

Currently, the wild population of red-crowned cranes in the world is about 3,800, including the non-migratory population (resident population) in Hokkaido, Japan, and the migratory population (continental population) on the East Asian continent.

Since 2009, the non-migratory population of red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido, Japan has increased from 1,200 to about 1,800, and the mainland population has increased from 1,500 to nearly 2,000.

However, the main threats to the red-crowned crane population include habitat reduction and degradation, human disturbance, and large-scale breeding activities, reclamation, and development, resulting in the destruction of the wetland habitat of red-crowned cranes to a certain extent.

Tourism development and the increase in the number of tourists have also become a significant threat to the red-crowned crane population. The best way to protect wild red-crowned cranes is to protect their habitat and avoid disturbing the wetland systems they depend on.

The red-crowned crane is an important species that play a vital role in maintaining and stabilizing the ecological environment. They are a symbol of cultural significance and scientific research value. It is necessary to take effective measures to protect and conserve their habitat to ensure their long-term survival.