New Whooping Crane Breeding Facility Opens at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
(WorldNews Environment)

Twelve whooping cranes, one of the most endangered species of crane in the world, moved to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia, yesterday, Dec. 16. It is the first time the 3,200-acre research facility dedicated to breeding and studying endangered species has been home to whooping cranes. With less than 900 birds on the planet, the six mated-pairs will be the founding members of SCBI`s whooping crane research and breeding program. The chicks that the pairs hatch will be candidates for reintroduction to the wild. `Since there are so few whooping cranes left, it`s critical that every crane has an opportunity to breed and help create a self-sustaining...