This crane is a national Class-A protected migratory bird. Each year black-necked cranes breed on the Tibet Plateau from July to August and spend the winter in Lhasa’s river valleys or in Bhutan. Scientists once believed that the black-necked crane was near extinction, but recent research has shown an increase in the crane population and additional habitat areas. The presence of black-necked cranes is considered a positive indicator of wetland health. Together with Tibetan farmers and herdsmen, the cranes form a picturesque landscape where humans and nature live in harmony.