South Koreans are protecting habitat for the birds, which have probably caused more than one alarm by soldiers mistaking their silhouettes on imaging devices for stealthily walking people. For more on wildlife in the DMZ check out this page.
“In Cheorwon, in the far north of South Korea, close to the demilitarised zone (DMZ), lies the remarkable ‘Rice Paddy for Cranes’ community conserved area. This patchwork of wetland and paddy fields sits within a mosaic of both production and wild landscapes. This area hosts and feeds critical habitat for populations of white-naped and red-crowned cranes…”