Dong Thap Province Approves Plan for Sarus Crane Conservation and Development

On November 3rd, the People's Committee of Dong Thap province officially approved the "Plan for Sarus Crane Conservation and Development at Tram Chim National Park, phase 2022-2032".

Sarus Cranes at Tram Chim National Park. Photo: Nguyen Van Hung
The overall objective of the plan is to restore and develop the Sarus crane population at Tram Chim National Park through captive breeding and release into the wild. Within 10 years (2022-2032), the plan aims to raise and release 100 individuals, with a minimum survival rate of 50%. The released Sarus cranes are expected to reproduce naturally, establish a self-sustaining wild population, and potentially reside year-round in Tram Chim National Park.
The province sets a target for the period 2022-2028 to receive 30 six-month-old cranes from Thailand for breeding, care, and release into the natural environment. Infrastructure, including breeding facilities, will be completed to support the entire process. The Tram Chim National Park ecosystem will be restored through appropriate water regulation and research-based measures to create a suitable habitat for Sarus cranes.
The plan outlines a roadmap to convert approximately 200 hectares of rice fields to ecological production models by 2028, with a focus on organic agriculture in the neighboring areas of Tam Nong district. Within the first 5 years, the cranes are expected to reproduce and thrive both within and outside Tram Chim National Park.
In the period 2029-2032, the province will continue negotiations with Thailand to receive an additional 30 six-month-old cranes. It is estimated that around 40 cranes will be bred from the initial parent flock. Additionally, a distribution map of cranes living inside and outside Tram Chim National Park will be created. Technical staff at Tram Chim National Park will be trained to successfully care for, breed, and release cranes into the wild. The plan also aims to increase the number of households (10 households) participating in ecotourism activities, combining rice field tours with crane watching and other activities related to rice field ecology.
Sarus cranes were rediscovered in Tram Chim in 1985. The number of cranes recorded in Tram Chim once exceeded 1,000 individuals (1,058 individuals in 1988). From then until the late 1990s, Tram Chim was consistently the site with the largest number of Sarus cranes in the lower Mekong River region. The presence of Sarus cranes was one of the key reasons for the establishment of the Tram Chim wetland reserve, the precursor to today's Tram Chim National Park. However, due to various reasons, the number of Sarus cranes returning to Tram Chim has been steadily declining.

Source: 1127/QĐ-UBND-HC
Nguyet Anh

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