The Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) is a high-altitude migratory bird species.

• It is the only alpine crane species in the world

Habitat

• Breeds in high-altitude wetlands, alpine meadows, and marshes across the Tibetan Plateau, Ladakh (Changthang region, Tso Moriri, Tso Kar, Pangong Tso), and northern Sikkim.
• Winters in lower elevations including parts of Arunachal Pradesh (Sangti Valley in West Kameng district, Tawang) and Bhutan, as well as southern China.

Threats

• Loss of wetlands.
• Stray dogs.
• Unregulated tourism
• Infrastructure development 

Protection Status:

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
• CITES:  Appendix I
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

Cultural Significance

• The bird is revered by the Monpa community (a major Buddhist ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh) as an embodiment of the sixth Dalai Lama (Tsangyang Gyatso).

Source: Down To Earth