Antigone antigone sharpii

(Blanford, 1895)

Vernacular names
English : Sarus crane
French : Grue Antigone

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Gruiformes
Family : Gruidae
Notes : 2 other subspecies known

Identification
Tallest crane species, reaching 176 cm high for a weight of 12 kg. Head and upper neck covered with dark red skin, white ear patch, grey crown. Rest of plumage ashy-grey with white flight feathers. Smallest subspecies, with grey neck.

Range and habitat
This subspecies occurs from east Myanmar to south Vietnam. Species also found in north India, Pakistan and Nepal and in northern Australia (Queensland). Lives in wetlands and grasslands nearby. Often found in agricultural areas.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Appendix II
Status : This subspecies is the safest for now, being legally protected and found in many national parks. The Indochinese subspecies is highly endangered.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America

Observation
Zoo Melaka (Malaysia), Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity (Cambodia), Khao Kheow Open Zoo (Thailand), Chiang Mai Zoo (Thailand)

 

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