China: Use satellites to track cranes

In order to collect data to protect the black-necked crane, China will continue to use satellites to track this bird as it travels in the southern province of Yunnan.

According to Zhong Mingchuan of the Yunnan Provincial Forestry Department, experts will place satellite transmitters on the backs of the black-necked cranes and monitor them via satellite.

Zhong said experts will use the data collected to protect this rare bird.

Satellite transmitters will not affect the normal life of cranes. After about two years, these devices will fall on their own.

China started using satellite navigation systems to protect the black neck crane from February 2005 in Dashanbao National Nature Reserve (Yunnan Province).

So far, this program has been very successful. Dashanbao is the largest residence of cranes to avoid cold weather in China. In the winter of 2004, 1,176 cranes were wintered here.