The Japanese crane, or red-crowned crane, is one of the rarest cranes in the world. The birds were hunted almost to extinction by the early 20th century but through conservation efforts, the resident population on the island of Hokkaido has increased to several hundred.

The Japanese crane, or red-crowned crane, is one of the rarest cranes in the world. The birds were hunted almost to extinction by the early 20th century but through conservation efforts, the resident population on the island of Hokkaido has increased to several hundred.