In late April two staff from the Denver Zoo visited ICF to receive hands-on training in breeding techniques that we use with our cranes. The staff returned to Denver with new skills that they can hopefully use next season to produce fertile crane eggs (their birds are already responding well to the techniques learned here at ICF) AND with two fertile Hooded Crane eggs from ICF for their collection.
On November 2, 2011, ICF transferred two Hooded Cranes (Panchenko and Tempest) to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virgina as part of a breeding recommendation developed by the Hooded Crane Species Survival Plan (SSP). SSP’s are designed to help manage captive populations to maintain genetic diversity and ensure a healthy population within the zoo community. As a member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, ICF actively participates in SSP recommendations.