In an effort to gather data to protect the Black-necked Crane, China will continue to utilize satellites to monitor this bird species as they migrate to avoid the cold in Yunnan Province (southern China).
According to Zhong Mingchuan from the Yunnan Forestry Department, experts will attach satellite transmitters to the backs of the Black-necked Cranes and monitor these devices via satellite.
Zhong stated that the data obtained will be used to protect this rare bird species.
The satellite transmitters will not affect the normal life of the cranes. After about two years, these devices will naturally fall off.
China began using satellite positioning systems to protect the Black-necked Crane in February 2005 at the Dashanbao National Nature Reserve in Yunnan Province.
To date, this program has been very successful. The Dashanbao Reserve is the largest wintering ground for crane populations in China. In the winter of 2004, 1,176 cranes took refuge here.
