Tibet world's largest winter habitat for black-necked cranes

Tibet has become the world's largest winter habitat for a critically endangered crane, a media report said on Tuesday.

Tibet is currently temporary home to 7,000 to 8,000 black-necked cranes, around 70 percent of the world's total, the Global Times reported.

"It has turned into a winter haven for this critically endangered species," said Dawa Tsering, researcher with the Tibet Autonomous Regional Academy of Social Sciences.

Fewer than 3,000 black-necked cranes came to Tibet in 1995, Dawa Tsering added.

The birds are native to the plateau regions of China, India, Bhutan and Nepal. Attracted by warm climate and abundant food, such as barley and wheat, thousands of them migrate to Tibet's river valleys from mid-October and spend winter there.

The black-necked crane is among more than 90 endangered species on China's top protection list, along with the giant panda and golden monkey.

Tibet now has 47 nature reserves, covering 412,200 sq. km, or 34.35 percent of the region's land area.