DALLAS — Dallas Zoo officials say a whooping crane that was born at the zoo and later released in the wild was found fatally shot in Louisiana.
The crane, which had been celebrated by the zoo as a conservation win, was found dead on Jan. 9 near Mamou, La., northwest of Lafayette, according to an update from the zoo Thursday.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Louisiana wildlife authorities are investigating the death, as whooping cranes are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Harming cranes in any way is a violation of the law.
Officials are offering a $15,00 reward, which includes contributions from the Dallas Zoo, for information that leads to an arrest and indictment in the case.
Anyone with information about the crane's death is asked to call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 985-882-3756 or the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at 337-491-2588.
The whooping crane was released by the zoo and Louisiana officials into the wild in Western Louisiana in November. It was celebrated as a conservation win at the time.
The zoo had raised the crane from birth, receiving its egg last year from the International Crane Foundation. After it hatched and was raised at the zoo, crews flew the crane down to Louisiana where it got acclimated with other cranes at the Audubon Species Survival Center. In November, the group of cranes was released into the wild.
"Conservation is at the heart of everything we do at the Dallas Zoo," the zoo statement said. "While we often celebrate success stories, the work we so passionately undertake is often marked by challenges and setbacks beyond our control. The impact of this significant loss is felt by everyone involved."
