Oldest wild red-crowned crane dies in northern Japan at age 35

KUSHIRO, Japan (Kyodo) -- The oldest wild red-crowned crane, identified as T26, has passed away at the age of 35, likely after being struck by a vehicle on a public road, according to government and other sources. Red-crowned cranes are native to Japan, specifically Hokkaido, where they were thought to be extinct due to overhunting and habitat loss until their rediscovery in 1924 in Kushiro.

These majestic birds typically live for around ten years in the wild, making T26's age exceptional. The nonprofit research and conservation group in Hokkaido discovered the crane's lifeless body in June in Nemuro, located on the eastern side of the island. Born in June 1991, T26's age makes it one of the world's oldest known wild red-crowned cranes based on publicly available data.

The crane was struck by a vehicle while on a public road. Red-crowned crane numbers have increased in Hokkaido, leading to a higher risk of road collisions and injuries for the species. Researchers emphasized that tracking a single bird's life for 35 years provides invaluable insights into its seasonal survival patterns, surpassing the mere collection of population data.