WWF-Japan, WWF-Mongolia, and WWF-Hong Kong are strengthening cooperation to protect migratory cranes through a flyway-based conservation approach. Hooded Cranes and White-naped Cranes migrate from breeding wetlands in the Amur River basin to wintering sites in Japan, making coordinated protection across borders essential. In January 2026, staff from WWF-Mongolia and WWF-Hong Kong visited crane wintering sites in Japan, including the Izumi Crane Wintering Grounds, to observe conservation efforts and exchange knowledge with local communities. The visit highlighted concerns over high crane concentrations at Izumi, where disease risks such as avian influenza have increased in recent years. Japanese authorities are promoting the dispersal of wintering sites while encouraging the maintenance of wetlands and rice-paddy landscapes in other regions. WWF offices emphasized that long-term protection of migratory cranes depends on information sharing and sustained international collaboration along the flyway.