Whooping Crane Recovery Program earns honour for Calgary Zoo

The Calgary Zoo has been honoured along with the International Crane Foundation, San Antonio Zoo and Audubon Nature Institute for their work on the Whooping Crane Recovery Program.

Handed out by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the honour recognizes efforts toward regional habitat preservation, species restoration and support of biodiversity in the wild.

"We are proud that decades of collaborations in captive-breeding and innovative conservation science have made such a difference for the recovery of whooping cranes in the wild," said Dr. Clement Lanthier, president and CEO of the Calgary Zoo.

"We remain committed to reintroduction of this species, and many others that need our help."

In 1944there were just 21 whooping cranes left in the wild, a number that has now grown to 450.

However experts say that number isn't yet strong enough to ensure long-term survival of the species.

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