The First Family From 2006 by Dr. Richard Urbanek

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $2,500 reward for information on the shooting of a very special endangered Whooping Crane.

Liz Condie:

The seven year old Whooping crane, matriarch of the First Family, was shot. She was the mother of Wild601, the first Whooping crane to be hatched in the wild in Eastern North American in more than a century.

This is unbelievably sad. The amount of time, dedication, and hard work that Operation Migration puts into their efforts in restoring these Whooping Cranes is just incredible. Check out Operation Migration in action to see what I mean!

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Press Release:

Wildlife law enforcement agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the
Indiana Department of Natural Resources are investigating the shooting of an endangered
whooping crane near the town of Cayuga in central Vermillion County, Indiana.

The crane was shot sometime between Saturday, Nov. 28, when it was observed by an
International Crane Foundation staff member, and Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, when an ICF
volunteer found the carcass along West County Road 310 North, just west of North
County Road 225 West.

The crane was identified by a leg band, and determined to be the seven-year old mother
of “Wild-1,” the only whooping crane chick successfully hatched (in 2006) and migrated
from captivity.

There are approximately 500 whooping cranes left in the world. The crane and its mate
were among 19 whooping cranes migrating from their summer grounds in Wisconsin to
their wintering grounds in Florida.

“To kill and abandon one of 500 remaining members of species shows a lack of
reverence for life and an absence of simple common sense,” said John Christian, FWS
Assistant Regional Director for Migratory Birds. “It is inconceivable that someone
would have such little regard for conservation.”

Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service special agents are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a minimum reward of $2,500 to the person or
people who provide information leading to a conviction.

Anyone with information should call the Indiana Department of Natural Resources 24-
hour hotline at: 1-800 TIP IDNR (800-847-4367), or the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at
317-346-7016. Callers can remain anonymous.

In addition to the Endangered Species Act, whooping cranes are protected by state laws
and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

We really hope that whoever is responsible for this horrible crime is caught and brought to justice!