Having flirted dangerously close with extinction in the 1940s due to habitat loss and overhunting, the whooping crane has staged something of a comeback.  

The biggest reason the population of the tallest bird species native to North America, so named for its distinct calls, has rallied from just 21 birds in the wild to more than 800 today is conservation efforts. 

And those efforts will grow after Canada’s largest oil and gas producer, Canadian Natural Resources, provided $600,000 over the next three years to support the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo’s whooping crane recovery program. 

“This is a very unique partnership with Canadian Natural that means a lot to our conservation efforts. It’s the first of its kind for us, but it doesn’t have to be the last,” said Kimberly Greenlaw, Wilder Institute’s senior manager of philanthropy and partnerships. 

In addition to supporting the zoo’s whooping crane conservation work, as part of the agreement this spring members of the Wilder Institute’s animal care, health and welfare team will visit one of Canadian Natural’s oil sands mining sites in northern Alberta.  

Following an initial assessment, they will provide recommendations for short-term care or providing support to any whooping cranes in need. 

“The expertise at the institute will strengthen the whooping crane recovery effort, while also enhancing Canadian Natural’s environmental practices,” said Bill Clapperton, vice-president of regulatory, stakeholder and environment affairs. 

Whooping cranes enjoying the new habitat the Wilder Institute’s Archibald Biodiversity Centre. Photo courtesy Wilder Insitute/Calgary Zoo

Lea Randall, Wilder Institute’s senior manager of conservation programs, notes that thanks to collaborative and cross-border conservation efforts, Canada’s wild whooping crane population has increased to approximately 500. 

“While this is a great achievement, the whooping crane remains listed as Endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act,” she said.  

“We recognize the importance of forging partnerships with organizations across all sectors. By working together, we can more effectively mitigate risks to and support the recovery of this iconic bird.” 

The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has been part of a conservation breeding program for whooping cranes since 1992. The first chick to successfully hatch under human care at the operation was in 1994.  

Since then, Calgary zookeepers have successfully hatched 54 whooping cranes, some of which have been transferred to partner organizations for release to the wild, while others have remained part of their conservation breeding programs.  

Whooping crane eggs laid at the Wilder Institute today are sent to partner organizations in the United States, where they hatch and are reared in preparation for release to Louisiana or Wisconsin. 

Photo courtesy Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo

There are currently 10 males and seven females residing at the Wilder Institute’s offsite breeding facility, the Archibald Biodiversity Centre, located about 75 kilometers east of Calgary.  

A pair of whooping cranes will soon reside in a brand-new habitat at the zoo, which Canadian Natural’s donation is supporting. 

“The whooping crane is one of Canada’s most at-risk bird species. As ambassadors for their species, these iconic North American birds will help to educate generations of visitors about the importance of wildlife conservation,” says Greenlaw.  

She sees the potential for future partnerships within the energy sector.  

“Whether they are large or small companies, people do care about wildlife and conservation.” 

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