6 sarus cranes arrive in Vietnam from Thailand for conservation program

According to Tram Chim National Park officials, six sarus cranes arrived in Vietnam from Thailand via Tan Son Nhat International Airport before being transported in specialized vehicles to the park in Dong Thap.

Tran Triet, a member of the International Crane Foundation, said the relocation involved a record 19-hour journey from Korat Zoo in Thailand to Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta province.

All six cranes arrived safely and in good health, and had resumed normal feeding and activity by the following morning, he said.

The six sarus cranes were transported from Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, commonly known as Korat Zoo, in northeastern Thailand to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok in specialized vehicles.

The group consisted of two males and four females weighing between 5.3 and 6.7 kilograms.

Throughout the transfer, the cranes were closely monitored and housed in temperature-controlled areas to ensure their well-being before they were flown to Vietnam.

After arrival procedures were completed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the cranes were transported to Tram Chim National Park, where they will undergo monitoring, quarantine, and acclimatization measures in line with conservation protocols.

The six cranes arrived at the park at about 9:30 pm on Tuesday and were released into a juvenile crane enclosure.

All were reported to be in good health.

Authorities in Dong Thap Province said the successful arrival of the second group of six cranes reflects effective cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand in efforts to restore the iconic bird species of Tram Chim, a wetland of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention and recognized as the world’s 2,000th Ramsar site.

The transfer forms part of Dong Thap’s broader efforts to restore and conserve the species under the Sarus Crane Conservation and Development Project 2022-32.