SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - A flock of the white-naped crane, an internationally recognized endangered species, was observed in a rice paddy in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, on October 12.
The white-naped crane is one of the world's rarest crane species, with a global population estimated to be only around 7,000 to 8,000 individuals. The cranes observed in Cheorwon are part of the eastern flyway population, which breeds in Russia and Mongolia before migrating south.
South Korea's border region, particularly the area around the Demilitarized Zone in Cheorwon, is a vital wintering and staging ground for these majestic birds. While many continue their journey further south to Japan, hundreds, and sometimes thousands, spend the winter months in the wetlands and farmlands of Cheorwon and Paju of Gyeonggi Province.
Estimates suggest that up to 300 white-naped cranes typically winter in the Paju and Cheorwon areas before flying north in the spring.
reporter
Cho Bo-hee
jobo@ajupress.com
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