Media Contact: media@savingcranes.org, 608-356-9462 On Wednesday, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced the illegal shooting of a Whooping Crane in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana – along with an award of up to $10,000 for information on this crime. The Whooping Crane was found on November 2, 2014 with an apparent bullet wound to her left leg, and necropsy results received earlier this month confirmed that the crane was shot. The crane was hatched at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland and released in Louisiana in January 2014. Click here to read LDWF’s press release on the shooting.
Photo by K.S. Gopi Sundar “We stand with our colleagues throughout the United States in denouncing yet another tragic shooting,” said Dr. Rich Beilfuss, ICF President & CEO. “With only 40 Whooping Cranes in Louisiana, every bird is vital for successfully re-establishing this population and helping ensure the survival of the species. ICF is proud to contribute crane chicks for release in Louisiana, and is committed to strengthening public awareness and protection for this endangered species throughout its range.” Although Whooping Cranes are back from the brink of extinction, they still face many obstacles to recovery, including habitat loss, power line collisions, and illegal shootings. Over the past five years, at least 20 Whooping Cranes have been shot and killed in the United States. These disturbing acts of violence have seriously affected all three Whooping Crane populations – from the resident population in Louisiana, to breeding grounds in Wisconsin, wintering habitat in Texas, and all along the cranes’ flyways. |  Through the Keeping Whooping Cranes Safe program, ICF is beginning work in communities where Whooping Cranes are frequently found to increase awareness and appreciation of these beautiful birds. We envision a future where Whooping Cranes are celebrated and welcomed back onto the landscape by all. Click here to learn how you can help us keep Whooping Cranes safe.
Share this video with your friends and help us spread the word that disturbing, harassing or killing Whooping Cranes is a crime. |
