WHOOPING CRANE POPULATIONS UPDATE - as of August 12, 2008 Thanks to Tom Stehn, Whooping Crane Coordinator at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and co-chair of the International Whooping Crane Recovery Team for the following update to the species' population stats. WILD POPULATIONS ADULT YOUNG TOTAL PAIRS Aransas/Wood Buffalo 227 39 266 72 The total of 266 Whooping cranes is this population’s current estimated current size. 64 chicks hatched this spring from a record 66 nests but they are not added to the count until they reach the Aransas Refuge in the fall. Florida Non-Migratory 30 0 30 12 No chicks fledged in the wild in 2008. The total of 30 birds reflects the 26 regularly monitored in Florida plus 4 additional cranes believed to be alive in unknown locations. Eastern Migratory 70 23 93 11 Five breeding facilities (Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, International Crane Foundation, Calgary Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, and Species Survival Center in New Orleans) either provided eggs or hatched and raised chicks in 2008. Four eggs came from abandoned wild nests in Wisconsin and were successfully hatched at Patuxent.  23 chicks are being raised for the release (16 ultralight, 7direct autumn release). Totals in the Wild 327 62 389 95    Captive Populations ADULT YOUNG TOTAL PAIRS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, MD 63 *2 65 13 International Crane Foundation, WI 35 0 35 11 Devonian Wildlife Conservation Centre, AB 22 0 22 6 Species Survival Center, LA 11 0 11 1 Calgary Zoo, AB 2 0 2 0 New Orleans Zoo, LA 2 0 2 0 San Antonio Zoo, TX 7 0 7 1 Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, FL 2 0 2 0 Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL 1 0 1 0 Jacksonville Zoo, FL 2 0 2 0 Milwaukee County Zoo, WI 1 0 1 0 Totals in Captivity 148 2 150 32 *These young are genetic holdbacks and will remain in captivity as future breeding stock Note: The above table does not reflect captive young in the 2008 reintroduction programs.    WHOOPING CRANE POPULATION TOTALS - July 14/08 ADULT YOUNG TOTAL In the Wild 327 62 389 In Captivity 148 2 150  Totals 475 64 539 Home | Our Work | Get Involved | In the Field Merchandise | Links | Contact Us

LINKS Go to SITE MAP CLICK to Select YOUR Mile! Sign our Guestbook A great destination for Teachers, Educators, and Kids of all ages. Whooper Happenings The comments and opinions expressed on the Whooper Happenings podcasts are not necessarily those of Operation Migration.