Crane

Animal Spotlight

April 2002

"The immortal cranes call, their cries sound from afar, their thoughts circle upward into distant skies. Below, on the autumn rivers, stands a man, above him the bright moon. The man wanders aimless, trailing after the endless Milky Way. The wind blows past him. I, too, thinks the man, would like to be utterly free."

- Jiang Yi Ning

The Crane Maiden (Japan)

Once upon a time in ancient Japan, a poor fisherman named Ito was returning from a fishing trip. As he walked along the beach, he chanced upon the most beautiful and captivating-looking crane he has ever seen. It was picking daintily at the shellfish on the sands, completely unaware that it was being stalked by a hunter who was hiding in the bushes nearby.

Ito realised the crane was in danger and shouted out just as the hunter released his arrow. Alarmed, the crane dodged just in time and flew away. Ito was relieved that the crane was safe but he was soon confronted by the hunter who threatened him with his fists. In the end, Ito appeased the hunter with some copper coins.

Ito returned home and just as he was settling for the night, a maiden came knocking at his door. She asked to seek shelter for the night and Ito welcomed her in. In return for his kindness, the maiden offered to weave some silk for him to sell but under the condition that he does not peep at her while she is weaving. Though he found her request strange, Ito nevertheless agreed and went to bed.

The next morning, the maiden presented Ito with the most beautiful and shimmering bolt of silk he had ever seen. The silk fetched a very high price at the market that morning. Ito was elated and he rushed home to inform the maiden the good news.

In his excitement, Ito opened his door without knocking beforehand. He saw the most unbelievable sight in his life - before him was an elegant and enchanting-looking white crane sitting at a loom and using its own tail feathers to weave another bolt of heavenly silk !

The crane called out in alarm like the day before when the hunter nearly shot it. Both Ito and the crane were stunned. The crane transformed into the maiden and told Ito regretfully that since he knew her true identity and secret, she had no choice but to leave him for good.

Ito apologised profusely and tried his best to persuade her to stay but the crane maiden simply brushed him aside with her wings as she reverted to her true form once more and flew way forever, leaving Ito with the unfinished bolt of silk......

The Manchurian Crane

(Also known as the Red Crown or Japanese Crane)

Scientific Name: Grus japonensis

Range: Manchuria (northeastern China), eastern Siberia, Korean Peninsula and eastern Hokkaido

Habitat: Wetlands

Diet: Small fish, insects and even small crustaceans

Social structure: They form permanent pair bonds, and the same pair may return to the same nesting site several years in a row.

Remarks:

Only the cranes on Hokkaido do not migrate during the winter months. These cranes are highly territorial, even in captivity where the pairs will fiercely defend their personal space from other intruding cranes or animals by pecking, kicking and hitting with their wings.

Red-crowned cranes are renowned for their spectacular and elaborate courtship dances. During these graceful displays (usually performed in pairs), the cranes circle each other while leaping and calling, 'bowing' toward one another while spreading their wings. Grasses, sticks or feathers are frequently tossed in the air. These dances can be observed throughout the year as the birds continually reinforce their pair bonds

Conservation/status

Highly endangered due to destruction of wetland habitats. Only less than 2000 left in the wild.

Cranes in Myth, Culture and Art

Cranes are believed to the heavenly messengers of the Chinese deities. Captive cranes have been known to live up to 30-40 years old ! For centuries the Chinese and Japanese have regarded cranes as symbols of grace, happiness, longevity and even fidelity (cranes also pair up for life and and are known to be faithful to their life long partners! ).

If you want to view the elegant and graceful Manchurian Cranes, you can take the first half of the tram ride into the Nepalese River Valley to see them!

We have 3 of such cranes in NS, 2 of them have paired up. The 3rd crane is still alone/single, poor chap!

Activity Section:

Aren't these paper cranes gorgeous? If you are interested, click on the photo and learn how to make them !

Acknowledgements / Bibliography - Facts and photos from the above source websites, Japanese folklore source from 'Asian Folklores' by .

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