Taiwan has welcomed a pair of exotic birds sent by Japan in a gesture of friendship and appreciation.

The red-crown cranes, named named “Big” and “Kika,” arrived at Taipei's Taoyuan Airport Wednesday and were taken to the city's zoo. They will be displayed at a special enclosure designed to simulate their natural habitat in the marshlands of northeast Asia.

A Taipei Zoo official says Japan sent the birds to thank Taiwan for its help after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March.

Zoo deputy director King Shi-chien says he was relieved when the cranes arrived safely.

Japan's Kyodo news agency says the loan of the cranes will help zoologists to learn whether they can breed in a different environment.

But Japanese zoo official Kimiya Koga says he will miss the cranes.

But he says he is too busy with details of the transfer to worry about that right now.

Japan has about 900 of the red-crown cranes, which have been hunted to near-extinction for their feathers.

Cranes are considered a symbol of longevity and represent good luck in both Japan and China.