The rehabilitated red-crowned crane YC257, outfitted with a satellite tracking device, arrived at the Xilingol grassland wetlands this spring and formed a breeding pair with another wild red-crowned crane. Researchers have confirmed that the two birds maintain a stable bond: they forage and defend their territory side by side, though no nesting activity has been observed so far — a pattern consistent with both the species’ breeding cycle and local environmental conditions.
Reserve staff will continue monitoring this crane pair and step up cross-regional collaborative conservation efforts.
YC257 was rescued in 2024 and released back into the wild after completing rehabilitation treatment. It spent the winter of 2025 in Yancheng alongside its newly formed mate, then migrated northward to breeding grounds in early 2026.
Red-crowned Crane (ID tag: YC257)