A rare whooping crane chick, the first born at the Dallas Zoo, was found dead on Jan. 9 in Louisiana. Photo: Courtesy of Dallas Zoo
A whooping crane hatched at the Dallas Zoo and released into the wild was found fatally shot in Louisiana, the zoo announced this week.
Why it matters: Whooping cranes are among the rarest species of birds, protected under the Endangered Species Act. Harming one is a federal crime.
The crane, born in June 2023, was the Dallas Zoo's first successful hatching of the species.
The latest: The crane was found dead, with a gunshot wound, on Jan. 9, in Mamou, Louisiana, according to the zoo.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are investigating.
A $12,500 reward — contributed by various organizations including the zoo — is being offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment of anyone responsible.
Flashback: The bird was released into its habitat in Louisiana in November as part of the zoo's conservation efforts with the Whooping Crane Center of Texas.
Stunning stat: At approximately 5 feet tall, the whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America.
