A pair of red-crowned cranes from Japan arrived at Taipei Zoo last night and visitors will be able to see them on Oct. 30 following a mandatory quarantine period.
The two cranes, a nine-year-old male named BIG and a six-year-old female Gui-hua, are a gift from Kushiro Zoo in Hokkaido to promote tourism among city-to-city exchanges.
A city delegation led by Taipei City’s Department of Information and Tourism Commissioner Chao Hsin-ping (趙心屏) visited Japan on Monday to accompany the two cranes to Taiwan, which were sent to Taipei Zoo after arrival last night to undergo quarantine measures.
Photo: CNA
Chao said the arrival of the two cranes marked a breakthrough in international animal exchanges for the two countries, as it was the first time Japan agreed to export red-crowned cranes.
“It is also a sign of approval for Taipei Zoo’s efforts in nature and animal conservation. The -number of Japanese visitors to Taiwan and Taiwanese visitors to Japan last year both reached more than 1 million, and we expect the arrival of the two cranes to further promote tourism between the two countries,” she said.
Taipei Zoo spokesman Chao Ming-chieh (趙明杰) said the zoo has prepared a temporary fenced area for the two cranes with a controlled room temperature below 25oC and includes plants found in their natural habitats to help them adapt to their new environment quickly.
The zoo sent veterinarians and animal caretakers to Japan last month to learn how to take care of the cranes and it is setting up a bigger exhibit in its wetland area as a permanent home for the two birds, he said.
According to the zoo, red-crowned cranes represent good fortune and longevity in Japan. They are classified as endangered birds and listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
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