Dashanbao Black-necked Crane National Nature Reserve, Nature reserve for black-necked cranes in Zhaoyang District, China
Dashanbao Black-necked Crane National Nature Reserve is a protected area of plateau marshland in Yunnan spanning roughly 19,200 hectares across elevations between 2,200 and 3,300 meters. The terrain consists mainly of wetlands with open water, grassland, and low shrub vegetation that shift with the seasons.
The reserve gained recognition as a Ramsar wetland site in 2004, establishing its protected status at the international level. This designation was a turning point that secured funding and legal protection for ongoing conservation work.
The reserve takes its name from the black-necked cranes that gather here each winter, becoming a defining feature of the local landscape during these months. The arrival of these birds marks an important seasonal shift that residents and visitors watch for each year.
The reserve has marked pathways and observation points set up for visitors to watch birds without disturbing them. The best time to visit is between November and March when the cranes are present and most active.
Thousands of cranes spend the winter here, gathering in one of Asia's largest concentrations of this rare species. This gathering of birds in a single location makes it exceptionally important to bird watchers and nature researchers worldwide.
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