CRIP: THE CONSTANT DANCER

GEORGETTE K. MAROLDO, Texas Lutheran College, Seguin, Texas 78155.

Crip: The Constant Dancer is a Maryland, 2 at the International Crane biographical study of a captive Whooping Foundation, Wisconsin (one on loan Crane and, as such, it is concerned with from Patuxent and the other from the the biological and behavioral problems Audubon Park Zoo in New Orleans), related to the management and preser¬ and 2 at the San Antonio Zoological vation of an endangered species. This Gardens and Aquarium, bringing the study identifies persistent questions in¬ world total to 108 or 109. The volving captive breeding, fer¬ tility/longevity, nesting vs. artificial in¬ Louisiana non-migratory flock has cubation, parental care, filial and sexual disappeared, to survive in the mixed imprinting, submissive-dominant genes of Josephine and Crip’s behaviors, personal space and optimal remaining offspring. enclosure area, and possible stress and effects that may be related to egg removal Today, Crip and his fifth known and other practices designed to increase mate Ektu live peacefully and con¬ egg production. tentedly, unaware of his renowned fame and special mission, at the San The life of the captive Whooping Antonio Zoo. Cranes, and especially Crane Crip, rich and varied by any Whooping Cranes, always rare, have standard, encompasses the recent resided in zoos in the past, where they history of concerted efforts on the were available for research and part of the American and Canadian study.7’ 8> 19’ 31 However, unlike Crip, governments and people to save his none has attained such “star status.” species from extinction. In fact, he is Although Crip has been a captive an embodiment of all such efforts be¬ most of his life, he was once part of ing made during his lifetime, and he the migratory population that continues as a vital agent in the journeys 2400 miles from their struggle to insure propagation of Crus breeding grounds at Wood Buffalo americana. When Crip, who is the National Park, Northwest Territories, property of the United States to spend the winter at Aransas Department of the Interior, was first National Wildlife Refuge, in Texas, observed at Aransas National Wildlife raising the young they bring with Refuge, Texas, in either 1946 or 1947, them. In spring they return to Canada. there were 31 migratory Whooping Both phases of the journey are Cranes, plus 2 in captivity, in the perilous and exhausting for the world by official count during the cranes. This might have been fatal for latter year (See Note a), and only one Crip, who survived the migration from or two remained of the non-migratory his nesting grounds only to be denied flock in Louisiana. Through conser¬ a return because of an injury to his left vation efforts, this number increased wing, probably sustained during his by 1979 to 74 wild migratory Whoop¬ southward flight.3’ 20 ing Cranes, to which can be added 8 or 9 from the Foster-Parent Ex¬ Crip’s Age periment, Grays Lake, Idaho. Twenty- Crip’s exact age can only be two Whooping Cranes reside at Pat¬ guessed. Although Allen calls him uxent Wildlife Research Centre, “Old Crip,” recalling an old friend

September, 1980. 38(3) 147 several years later, Crip was possibly and a half years. Again, no nesting in mature white plumage, though was observed, although it was as¬ hardly more than a few years old, sumed by Allen that this crane was a when first encountered by Allen at female.20 Then, as now, sexing of Aransas in the winter of 1947.4 Thus, Whooping Cranes is difficult and un¬ at the time of writing (1979), Crip is certain, Allen rarely made an error, about 34 years old, the “middle of the but proof of accuracy depends on the road” even for cranes, whose life ex¬ results of pairing. pectancy, according to Erikson is probably over 60 years.13 Certainly, Josephine and Crip Crip is a tall, majestic bird who carries Only less famous than Crip himself his age well, despite an obviously was his third mate, Josephine, crippled wing. Now as always, he is in¬ “Queen of the Whooping Cranes”.6 clined to stride gracefully and She was believed to be one of the last vigorously about his domain. He is survivors of the non-migratory easily over four and one-half feet tall, Louisiana Whooping Cranes who stalwart and proud, with a glittering lived in the quiet marshes around Lac eye and a sovereign mien. Blanc in Vermilion Parish, southwest Louisiana, until this population dis¬ appeared. In the fall of 1940 a severe Crip’s Early Mates storm, at the fringes of a hurricane, in¬ Evidence suggests that Crip has undated the marshland where had a series of mates. Although the Josephine lived. However, her subse¬ precise number is unknown, five have quent injury was probably not the been identified. Deriving the bulk of result of this catacylism, but of a her information from Allen’s various hunter’s bullet.18 Allender and accounts, McNulty reports that Crip Archibald state that a farmer of and his flightless mate, having spent Evangeline Parish after having cap¬ the summer of 1947 in the Middle tured an injured crane in a rice field, Pond Territory at Aransas, were gave it to L. O. LaHaye of Eunice, who evicted in the fall by the returning nursed it back to health.5 A year later rightful owners.20 They moved on to this crane was formally recognized as Rattlesnake Point Road, where they a whooper and sent to Audubon Park stayed until March 1948, when the Zoo, where she was introduced as female died a lingering death, shot by Josephine. From the fall of 1941 until an unknown assassin. Evidentally, the fall of 1948, Josephine remained Crip did have a female by his side in alone in her enclosure at the zoo. It his early years at Aransas, not just a became obvious to Allen and others companion. However, since there is that Josephine with a mate could par¬ no evidence of nesting, possibly due ticipate in a captive breeding ex¬ to immaturity, it must be assumed periment, which was being in¬ that Crip and the female may not have augurated, to help insure survival of mated at this time.27 her species.3 After the death of his first mate, Pete entered upon the scene, a Crip’s resumed bachelorhood did not male Whooping Crane that had been last long. On 17 April 1948 while at shot along the flyway in Nebraska Rattlesnake Point Road Territory, during migration. He had been cap¬ Allen observed him calling to a lone tured and sheltered by members of migratory whooper who was flying the Gothenburg Gun Club, in a fenced north. This crane flew to his side, and area on the Platte River since May remained with him at Aransas from 1936. Before joining Josephine, on April 1948 until October 1949, one loan from the Audubon Park Zoo, in a

148 Blue Jay Figure 1. Josephine and Pete at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, May, 1949. L. H. Walkinshaw

150-acre enclosure at Aransas in late with no apparent clash of wills. From 1948, Pete, blind in the left eye and all accounts, these cranes, whose missing his right wing primaries, was species usually pair for life unless the displayed at the St. Louis Zoo Bird death of one intervenes, were ideally House from 6 November to 19 suited to one another, and seemed to December.32 sense their awesome responsibility. To everyone’s delight, Josephine Josephine and Crip danced, and Pete, danced and mated in March mated, and built a nest in the spring of and April 1949, and eggs were dis¬ 1950 at Aransas, and on 22 April an covered at Aransas on 30 April and 1 egg was laid. This egg had the dis¬ May. Unfortunately, chicks never tinction of being constantly observed emerged, the parents left the vicinity from a 20-foot observation tower by of the nest after smashing their infer¬ the staff, and at different periods, the tile eggs on the 24th day of in¬ two leading authorities on Whooping cubation. On the evening of 21 July or Cranes, Robert Porter Allen and early the following morning, Pete died Lawrence H. Walkinshaw.2’ 30 Despite of natural causes. Allen dubbed him a these promising eventualities, there “game old warrior,” who had certainly appeared in a New Orleans news¬ done his best for his species, alas, paper a report to the effect that with no viable results.2 Superintendent Douglas of the Once again Josephine needed a Audubon Park Zoo was at that time mate. No time was lost, and Crip was seeking a return of Josephine, so designated. Early in October 1949, perhaps, to swap her for a “Panda in a a posse was organized at Aransas, northern zoo”.33 and he was captured. Crip’s second The first Whooping Crane ever mate, who was with him, had flown off hatched in captivity, called Rusty at the last moment, and he was because of his russet chick-down, apprehended.2 Undaunted, Crip emerged late on 24 May or early the joined Josephine in the enclosure, next morning. Unfortunately, this ap-

September, 1980. 38(3) 149 parently healthy, tiny chick dis¬ Table 1 further indicates by asterisk appeared without a trace only 4 days other chicks of this pair also available after hatching, for reasons unknown.3 for viewing at the museum. It seems, by all accounts, that even in so short a time, Crip was a solicitous During the early years at the and tender father. Audubon Park Zoo several eggs were broken by the cranes themselves, for Taking as failures the events of the reasons unknown, causing the previous year, in conjunction with the Bureau and the Zoo officials to con¬ loss of her eggs in 1951, Douglas sider some precautions. Thereafter, retrieved Josephine from the many of the eggs were removed as breeding experiment at Aransas on soon as possible and artifically in¬ 13 December. In the confusion follow¬ cubated or placed in the care of ex¬ ing his unannounced arrival at the pert crane-egg hatchers. The record Refuge, he managed not only to shows that conditions did not im¬ regain custody of Josephine, but also prove, and to this day, hatching to grab Crip, taking them both back healthy chicks is risky, laden with with him to the Zoo.20 Three days later biological and psychological the cranes were formally welcomed to problems yet to be solved by New Orleans.9 research. “Pulling” the eggs, however, did increase egg produc¬ tion. Cranes typically lay a two-egg For the first 4 years at the Audubon clutch, but if the eggs are Park Zoo nothing of consequence systematically removed, the female happened to further the propagation often will continue to lay. of Whooping Cranes in captivity. The situation changed dramatically in The spring before Josephine died, 1955, to inaugurate a decade of 1964, she had laid 10 eggs. Two of remarkable activity. Table 1 outlines them hatched, but the chicks did not the egg production and offspring of live long. Following this “ten- Josephine and Crip at the Audubon egg-tragedy,” the Bureau began to Park Zoo from 1955 to 1965. The only wonder if Josephine and Crip were offspring surviving to maturity were too old to produce healthy chicks.20 George, Georgette, Pee Wee, and No one has yet addressed the effects Pepper (Note b). Although many of of psychological and physiological the offspring of Josephine and Crip stress possibly resulting from these led short lives, the skins of several of procedures. them have been preserved; and through the art of the taxidermist, they Josephine, the last of the non- subsist in life-like form, adding to the migratory Whooping Cranes, died on lore of the Whooping Crane. George 13 September 1965. Five days earlier, H. Lowery, Jr., late director of the Hurricane Betsy hit New Orleans and Museum of Natural Science at in its wake there was the usual aerial Louisiana State University, Baton survey of damage. A helicopter flying Rouge, played a key role in this low came too close to Josephine’s lasting achievement (Note c). For ex¬ enclosure and in her fright [possibly ample, Josephine and Crip’s chick coupled with stress and exhaustion] that lived for 45 days in 1956 is part of she was fatally injured.5 After a series an exhibit at the LSU museum, called, of events, Lowery was able to get “The Louisiana Prairie Long Ago.” Josephine’s skin. She stands alone at The youngster is overshadowed by the LSU museum against the day she two adult whoopers, themselves will return to Audubon Park Zoo to preserved for many generations. take part in a special exhibit.

150 Blue Jay TABLE 1 — Egg Production and Offspring of Josephine and Crip at the Audubon Park Zoo : 1955-1965 Year Date No. Nested/ Condition Date Name Date Cause/ a Life¬ Laid Eggs Incubate Hatch Died Death span 1955 5/29 1 Nested Broken 1956 4/28 1 Nested 5/29 7/13 A 45 days* 5/02 2 Nested 6/01 6/02 B 2 days 1957 4/18 1 Nested 5/18 George 11/8/78 C 21 years 4/21 2 Nested 5/21 Georgette 1958 3/28 1 Nested 4/30 Pee Wee 6/20/70 C 12 years 3/30 2 Nested Burst 5/21 3 Nested Infertile 5/24 4 Nested Infertile 1959 2/14 1 Nested Broken 2/17 2 Nested Broken 3/06 3 Incubate Infertile 3/09 4 Incubate Dead chick 3/12 5 Nested Addled 5/05 6 Broken 5/08 7 Dead chick 1960 2/13 1 Incubate Infertile 2/16 2 Incubate Infertile 2/19 3 Incubate Infertile 4/16 4 5/17 6/02 A 16 days* 4/18 5 5/18 5/18 G 8 hours* 1961 2/25 1 Incubate 2/28 2 Incubate 3/12 3 Broken 3/15 4 4/18 Pepper 2/14/74 D 12 years* 1962 3/05 1 4/08 4/19 E 11 days 3/08 2 Nested Infertile 5/01 3 Fert/dead 5/04 Fert/dead 5/23 5 6/25 7/02 G 7 days* 6/26 6 Nested Broken 1963 3/12 1 Nested Broken 3/22 2 Nested Broken 3/25 3 Nested Hole 4/08 4 Incubate Infertile 4/11 5 Nested Broken 5/01 6 Incubate Infertile 5/05 7 Incubate Infertile 5/17 8 Incubate Broken 1964 3/28 1 Incubate Premature G 40 hours 3/31 2 Incubate 5/02 Zoe 5/20 F 18 days 3 Incubate Infertile 4 Incubate Infertile 5 Incubate Infertile 6 Incubate Infertile 7 Incubate Infertile 8 Incubate Infertile 9 Incubate Infertile 10 Incubate Infertile 1965 1 Incubate Infertile 2 Incubate Infertile 5/13 3 Incubate Fert/dead Note: Fifty-two eggs were laid, 12 hatched, 4 lived to adulthood, 1 remains alive. aCause of death: A = Aspergillosis; B = Disappeared; C = Injury; D = Infection; E = Operation; F = Defect; G = Unknown September, 1980. 38(3) 151 Figure 2 Josephine and Crip with George and Georgette at Audubon Park Zoo, 24 May 1957 Parker’s

Rosie and Crip water prompted him to resume his migration. Following her capture, The migratory Whooping Crane Rosie was taken to the San Antonio Rosie, on loan to the Audubon Park Zoo, where she was accurately iden¬ Zoo at the time, became Crip’s fourth mate. Sometime after 3 May 1956, tified as a female by the late director, she and a former mate had left Aran¬ Fred Stark, who immediately advised sas on their flight to Wood Buffalo, but the Service of her availability.20 went no farther than Lampasses During the 8 years of Rosie’s County, Texas, because Rosie had solitary residence at the San Antonio crippled a wing on a high wire. Her Zoo, George and Georgette, offspring mate stayed with her until a need for of Josephine and Crip, reached

152 Blue Jay maturity at Audubon Park Zoo. Rosie production and offspring of Rosie and was brought from San Antonio to New Crip at the San Antonio Zoo from Orleans to pair with George in April 1967 to 1970. Tex, named after her 1964, thereby augmenting the native state, was the only offspring reproductive efforts of Josephine and surviving into maturity. Crip. In the spring of 1965, in their newly constructed pens, they danced The first chick hatched in 1967 had and mated but did not nest. It should suffocated or been stepped on in¬ be noted that during the winter of advertently by the parents. This ac¬ 1964-65, Roxie Laybourne, employing cident may have resulted from the her own technique, was able to sex fact that the cranes had minimal per¬ Josephine and Crip’s four offspring, sonal space in captivity. Inasmuch as determing George, Georgette and each crane family in the wild claims Pepper to be male, and Pee Wee to large territories, the question of space be female. Georgette was now called appears to require further study. George I.20 Consequently, Pee Wee Consequently, Stark, concerned and George I were paired, but did not about the safety of Tex, the second prove compatible. The reason is not chick hatched in 1967, reared her in far to seek. An autopsy performed on his own home for the first several days Pee Wee in 1970 disclosed that he of her life. As a result, she became im¬ was a male. printed upon human beings rather than cranes, and this would have far- About this time, in 1964, Can-Us, reaching effects later on. Tex, who the property of the Canadian and weighed a pound and was fourteen in¬ American governments, was captured ches tall at 16 days, flew by jet to in Canada, and, at first, taken to Patuxent secure on the lap of R. C. Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge, Erickson, Assistant Director for En¬ Colorado. Later in 1966 he was dangered Wildlife Research. Patuxent transferred to Patuxent. Can-Us, yet had been in operation for only a year, another migratory whooper in cap¬ but its concern for Whooping Cranes, tivity, eventually will play a role in the among other endangered species, captive-breeding experiment and in¬ was evident in their many efforts on directly in the life of Crip. their behalf. As noted above, following After Rosie and Crip’s propagation Josephine’s death and the realization failure in 1968, questions again arose that the union of Rosie and George concerning the fertility of Rosie and, was unproductive, the Bureau and the especially, Crip. A biologist from Audubon Park Zoo decided to place Patuxent was sent to the San Antonio Rosie with Crip. Evidently well- Zoo to conduct tests on the cranes.34 suited to each other temperamentally, In 1969 Rosie began laying eggs the pair, nevertheless, failed to nest in again. Interestingly, when a decoy egg the spring of 1966. This fact, in con¬ was placed in the nest as a substitute nection with previous arrangements for one of her own removed eggs, she and agreements between the Bureau rolled it away, and built another nest.23 and the Audubon Park Zoo, prompted Variations of this practice occur from the former to recommend transfer of time to time. Walkinshaw recalls that a Rosie and Crip to the San Antonio Sarus Crane in September 1965 was Zoo (Notes d and e). The move was found incubating 2 crane eggs plus 1 accomplished on 5 January 1967; large snail shell (Note f). Today, hopefully, it would stimulate decoys are rarely, if ever, used reproduction, and such proved to be because the crane continues to lay the case. Table 2 outlines the egg without them.25

September, 1980. 38(3) 153 TABLE 2 — Egg Production and Offspring of Rosie and Crip at the San Antonio Zoo : 1967-1970

Year Date No. Nested/ Condition Date Name Date Cause/ a Life¬ Laid Eggs Incubate Hatch Died Death span 1967 6/7 1 Nested 7/6 HI A 1 day 6/9 2 Nested 7/9 Tex 3 4 1968 6/2 1 Nested Infertile 1969 4/25 1 Broken 4/29 2 Incubate Infertile 5/6 3 Incubate Infertile 5/12 4 Incubate Infertile 5/16 5 Incubate Fert/dead 6/6 6 Nested 7/5 Firecracker 7/11 B 6 days 1970 3/20 1 Incubate Fert/dead 3/22 2 Incubate Fert/dead 3/29 3 Incubate Infertile 4/3 4 Incubate Fert/dead 4/9 5 Incubate Infertile 4/13 6 Incubate Fert/dead 4/24 7 Incubate 5/27 5/29 C 2 days 5/11 8 Nested Flooded

Note: Nineteen eggs were laid, 4 hatched, 1 lived to adulthood and remains alive. aCause of death: A = Suffocated or stepped on; B = Defect; C = Infection.

Toward the end of May after having Furthermore, Whooping Cranes were laid the fifth egg of the season, Rosie the property of the United States was given a rest.22 Later, on 5 July the Department of the Interior, on loan to chick from her sixth egg hatched, and the zoos, so ultimately the zoos were it was aptly called “Firecracker.” At in a subordinate position. Recent cap¬ this time, celebrated Crip had off¬ tive whoopers are the joint property of spring everywhere. George, George I, the Canadian Wildlife Service and Pee Wee, and Pepper at the Audubon Interior. Patuxent agreed to provide Park Zoo, Tex at Patuxent, and now the zoos with detailed instructions Firecracker at the San Antonio Zoo. concerning daily care, diet and diet The largest number of Whooping supplements, medical treatment, Cranes ever held in captivity were handling pairs or singles, artificial sired by Crip. Sadly, Firecracker lived light stimulation, retrieval of eggs, dis¬ only 6 days. Death resulted from position of eggs, incubation, slipped tendons in the knees. brooding, rearing, and autopsy With the exception of Griswold’s reports (Note g). research, little had been done on Pee Wee, offspring of Josephine rearing Whooping Cranes in zoos, and Crip, died on 20 June 1970, at the and in the late 1960’s Audubon Park Audobon Park Zoo, of air sacculitis and San Antonio came to rely, more and pneumonia, resulting from in¬ and more, on Patuxent for guidance.14 juries sustained when he “flew against

154 Blue Jay the pen in an effort to fight a Tulane University Medical Center, neighboring sandhill crane” (Note h). that all three of their cranes were, in¬ His death was to a large extent ig¬ deed, males (Note k). The San An¬ nored in the public press and related tonio Zoo had their lone, male comment; and no records presently Whooping Crane, Crip, while exist at the Audubon Park Zoo. Audubon Park held his three male offspring. Shopping around for cap¬ The spring before Rosie died, 1970, tive female Whooping Cranes of she had laid eight eggs. One of the breeding age in order to continue the chicks hatched at Patuxent but it did breeding experiments at the zoos was not survive. Rosie did not appear to going to be a difficult task. Related to be herself in the spring of 1971; she this at Audubon Park Zoo and did not lay any eggs. On 16 June she elsewhere was a persistent, yet, was found in her enclosure unable to pulsating emphasis on the possibility stand and evidently seriously ill. All ef¬ of re-establishing the non-migratory forts failed to save her, and she died Whooping Cranes in Louisiana. As in the hands of zoo officials at 17:55. noted above, the surviving offspring The autopsy that was performed at of Josephine and Crip constituted the Patuxent revealed that Rosie had suc¬ only gene bank of the lost flock. cumbed to a tumor in the liver plus other complications [possible stress In any case, the Audubon Park Zoo and exhaustion] (Note i). went directly to the Secretary of the Interior, Rogers C. B. Morton, and Crip, again alone, remained at the their own Louisiana Senator J. San Antonio Zoo. At this time, he Bennett Johnston with their requests seemed destined to remain an old for a suitable female Whooping widower. Crane. The San Antonio Zoo targeted Patuxent with the same request. Early Essential to any captive-breeding in the negotiations the replies to the program is the successful sexing of Audubon Park Zoo were not en¬ the principals involved. This proved couraging, whereas, those to the San crucial to the Audubon Park Zoo Antonio Zoo were. Always uppermost where, despite various efforts, they in the minds of those concerned with still wished to verify the sexes of the Whooping Crane welfare at the cranes they held. Safe methods of Department of the Interior, however, sexing were also sought. George was the fact that at Audubon all three Archibald of the recently established cranes could be lost at one time, if any International Crane Foundation, catastrophe hit the Zoo. The intention Baraboo, Wisconsin, visited the zoo to separate the cranes eventually for 4 days in February 1972 to test his seemed justifiable. The wild Whoop¬ method for sexing cranes (Note j). His ing Cranes are similarly threatened by preliminary attempt to determine the natural or man-made calamity. sexes of Crip’s three offspring by studying their unison calls was par¬ The sudden death of 12-year-old tially successful. According to Kepler Pepper, the offspring of Josephine the behaviour of a dominant female and Crip on 14 February 1974, at may be so similar to that of a male Audubon Park certainly did not help that unison calls may be the only way the zoo’s request for additional of sexing.17 Now firmly established, cranes. Pepper’s cause of death was this safe method of sexing should never firmly established; it was be¬ prove very valuable. By 1974 the lieved to be caused by a bacterial in¬ Audubon Park Zoo found out through fection, but duck plague virus could chromosome Karotypy, performed by not be ruled out (Note I). Following a

September, 1980. 38(3) 155 second autopsy at the Smithsonian EK-2, says Kepler (Note n) was Institution in Washington, D.C., the raised alone in an enclosure to avoid body of Pepper was sent on to the imprinting, yet adjacent to others of LSU Museum of Zoology, where it her species.16 On 8 October 1968 she could only be salvaged as a skeleton was placed with EK-4, EK-1, and Tex, (Note m). the female offspring of Rosie and Crip who was a little over a year old then. Following Pepper’s death, there EK-2 formed a pair-bond with the were renewed efforts at the Zoo and large male EK-4 and together these elsewhere concerning prospects for birds dominated EK-1 and Tex. re-establishing the Louisiana non- Following a severe thunderstorm on 4 migratory Whooping Cranes in their November, only 27 days after these former marshland or some similar cranes had been placed together, EK- setting. There remained at Audubon, 4 died. Tex was removed from the now, only George and George I, pen, but EK-1 and EK-2 remained descendants of Josephine. together. Although EK-1 was a male, Although Crip was unaware in late he remained subordinate to EK-2 for 1975 that he would shortly meet his the 7 years they were together. fifth mate, the San Antonio Zoo was Consequently, they did not mate. not. Patuxent and Canadian Wildlife Kepler seems to suggest that EK-1 had agreed on the choice of a likely assumed his submissive role follow¬ distaff for Crip, recognizing his excep¬ ing earlier encounters with EK-4 and tional value in their propagation ef¬ EK-2, both markedly dominant.16 In forts and research. the wild, a subordinate crane has the opportunity to escape (Note f). The in¬ Ektu and Crip teraction between the genetic program and the environment here as The female that was selected as elsewhere is open to further in¬ Crip’s mate had been taken from a vestigation.1 These cranes were wild nest designated EK-2, at Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, on 2 separated on 1 August 1975. EK-2 June 1967, and hatched at Patuxent was placed together with another on 11 June. It is interesting to note male, whom she attacked almost at once, and, in consequence, had to be that this egg, which produced a removed from the enclosure. healthy chick, was taken from a wild nest and artificially incubated for only the last 9 days before hatching, while Officials at the San Antonio Zoo, captive crane eggs are removed having waited for several years for a almost immediately and placed in in¬ suitable mate for Crip, a crane of un¬ cubators, and often fail to hatch or to usual equanimity, must have received survive, though fertile. According to the news of the arrival of the im¬ Rahn, Ar, and Paganelli research perious EK-2 with a touch of focusing on parent functions during apprehension. Director Moore of incubation, that is, warming the eggs Audubon Park had his concerns, too, to the optimal temperature and main¬ at the time, but they were of a taining the humidity of the nest air, decidedly different nature. To set the among other factors, must be under¬ record straight Moore wrote to Linda taken to insure critically close Scarbrough, whose article in the New duplication of the natural process in York Times entitled, “The Ugly Duck¬ artificial incubation.21 Therefore, ling Updated” contained a gross inac¬ careful study of the behavior and curacy. She had failed to state that the biology of nesting cranes in captivity first chick ever conceived by two seems imperative. Whooping Cranes in captivity was

156 Blue Jay hatched by the Audubon Park Zoo in pace so that she had no other alter¬ May 1950 (Note o). Although he did native but to retreat. With time, Ektu not specify that the egg in question and Crip became adjusted to each was actually hatched at Aransas un¬ other and a pair-bond was es¬ der Audubon Park auspices, he did tablished. Ektu and Crip were ob¬ imply that the Zoo would probably not served dancing and mating in the receive from Interior sufficient spring of 1977, but no eggs were females to continue their breeding laid. program. As it turned out, Moore was correct, the International Crane Foun¬ Imprinting dation was authorized on 21 April 1976, a 2-year loan of a pair of As noted above, Tex had become breeding-age Whooping Cranes — a imprinted on humans rather than female from Patuxent (Tex) and a cranes. Imprinting begins in birds as male from Audubon Park (George I, they fix on the first moving object en¬ later Tony), “for the purpose of countered after hatching; this princi¬ propagation and research in artificial ple was established by Konrad insemination techniques” (Note p). Lorenz, and subsequent in¬ The airline that took George I and vestigations of imprinting usually Moore to Baraboo, listed the bird as follow where he leads. Summarizing George Crane on the passenger list his discussion of imprinting, Dews¬ and assigned him a seat in the non¬ bury says: smoking section. Tex, who had One can demonstrate a complete gamut of arrived on 15 April, and Tony were phenomena, from a lack of preference for the imprinted object to a life-long atypical received at the Foundation with mating preference. As with virtually any jubilation.28 Since Tex was known to well-analyzed behavioural phenomenon, be sexually imprinted upon humans the determinants are complex. rather than cranes, the pairing of Tex and Tony at the International Crane To offset the effects of Tex’s im¬ Foundation was destined to be printing on humans and to insure remarkable. propagation, Archibald undertook a unique experiment at the Inter¬ national Crane Foundation during the Two months earlier, EK-2, subse¬ spring of 1977. quently called Ektu, arrived at the San Antonio Zoo to be placed with Crip on Some years earlier, the male Can- 11 February 1976. The first meeting Us and Tex had been paired at Patux¬ was not a blissful one. Experienced ent. Artificial insemination techniques Crip must have sensed something were employed when Tex did not different about his fifth mate’s respond to Can-Us’ displays. This behavior because he, un¬ procedure, it was hoped, would result characteristically, attacked her right in an egg, indisputable evidence of away by giving her several hard Tex’s being a female, in view of the thumps on the head while chasing her fact that her sex was still uncertain around the enclosure.10 Separation (Note q). This experiment proved was immediate. Several months later, negative; however, attention was now in order to help the cranes finally ad¬ directed to the ritual dance, the just to one another, the gates between necessary prelude to mating. their adjacent enclosures were left In consequence, Archibald as¬ open during the day.24 Ektu would sumed the role of Tex’s companion wander into Crip’s territory and, during the mating season. They although he did not touch her, he danced together, she became sexual¬ would run past her at an alarming ly active, and Tony’s semen was ar-

September, 1980. 38(3) 157 tificially administered to her on 1, 4, from the Audubon Park Zoo, in June and 7 April. Tex laid an egg on 9 April, 1977, on a one-year trial basis. Angus, but it proved infertile. This procedure who arrived in Baraboo in the fall of and related research should con¬ that year, seemed, by all accounts, to tribute to further understanding of have the temperament and dignity of Whooping Crane behavior and his sire Crip. He and Tony were to biology. It is interesting to note that serve as sperm donors to inseminate Archibald costumed himself in a red artificially Tex.29 ski cap and white suit for the dance with Tex. Inasmuch as imprinting is Crip, in the spring of 1978, could generally considered irreversible, one have had the singular distinction of must assume that his role remained being both father and grandfather at essentially human. The costume the same time. Ektu laid her first egg served, perhaps, as an intermediary on 18 April, at the San Antonio Zoo, between human and crane in Tex’s while Tex laid an egg on 27 April, at perception. This might lead to con¬ the International Crane Foundation. sideration of possible step-by-step Alas, neither hatched. Ektu’s egg had reversibility of imprinting from been fertile, but the embryo died at humans to cranes, in line with the about 10 days due to bacterial con¬ results of Archibald’s role-playing as tamination. Tex’s chick died during human-crane. pipping due to an abnormal eye con¬ dition. Only future research can determine As with his mother Josephine and, whether these procedures reinforced later, his brother Pee Wee, a freak ac¬ the sexual imprinting on a human, in¬ cident contributed to Angus’ death. itiated the reversal back to cranes, or On 24 May 1978, several hot-air confused the preference behavior balloons flew over the International altogether.26 In their study of filial irrv Crane Foundation site, at Baraboo, printing on ducks, Hoffman and Wisconsin, and unwittingly terrified DePaulo state that an imprinted the cranes assembled there. Ac¬ organism is not doomed permanently. cording to Archibald (Note s), Angus “Nature can in fact repair some of the un¬ flew in panic against the fence and fortunate vagaries of environmental ex¬ perience. Apparently it does so through “completely broke off the outer IVfe” of the continually expanding and adjusting his upper mandible.” Intensive care effects of learning”. was given Angus, but he was unable to eat and had to be force fed. During Walkinshaw recalls the story of a a forced-feeding session on 16 Sandhill crane, originally imprinted on August, he shifted position and cranes, who became sexually im¬ somehow broke the proximal end of printed on one particular man, and for his left tibia. All that could be done for 5 consecutive years laid two infertile this valuable crane was done; eggs on a neighbor’s front porch however, he never recovered and (Note f). Miller, who has done con¬ died on 7 October 1978. The Audubon siderable research on imprinting Park Zoo received the news, as so says, often in the past, with sadness but “My thesis is that imprinting is the study of with renewed dedication to the cause laboratory artifacts and not the study of of Grus americana and to the re¬ how animals come to identify conspecifics establishment of the non-migratory in nature” (Note r). flock in Louisiana. Questioning Tony’s fertility, the Foundation successfully negotiated Epilogue and Conclusions the loan of George, renamed Angus, Artificial light stimulation, egg

158 Blue Jay removal, and other procedures 2. That crane longevity varies in probably resulted in increased egg captivity subject to differing con¬ production for Crip and Ektu in the ditions and trauma. spring of 1979. As a result, 8 eggs 3. That the advantages of nesting were laid, the first discovered on the over artificial incubation or vice versa morning of 12 March. Others followed cannot yet be determined. on 14, 18, 21, and 26 March. Before 4. That parental care, even in artificial incubation was attempted, cranes, may involve some learned each egg remained a short period behaviors. with the parents. During this time, 5. That filial and sexual imprinting Crip was observed doing cuost of the are very complex, and possibly sub¬ incubation. In fact, he was busy with ject to variation. egg number 5 in the early afternoon of 6. That submissive-dominant 27 March, when he got up from the behaviors of specific cranes may exist egg, walked to the stream at the far apart from sex-role factors. end of the enclosure for a sip of water, 7. That personal space and op¬ and suddenly fell over and died. The timal enclosure area are important necropsy report, from Madison, factors in crane management. Wisconsin, at the request of the 8. That the psychological and Department of the Interior, attributed physiological stress imposed on cap¬ Crip’s death to a cardiovascular ac¬ tive cranes may contribute to poor cident. health and even early death. The suddenness and the nature of Crip’s Ektu laid three more eggs following death, perhaps due to overexertion in Crip’s death, on 29 March and 2 and 8 advanced age, and the earlier deaths April. Five of the eight eggs proved to of Josephine and Rosie, lead to a per¬ be fertile. Two of these were shipped sistent question: Do artificial light to Patuxent and three were retained stimulation, egg removal, and related by the San Antonio Zoo. On 19 April a procedures, which often result in in¬ crane chick was hatched stillborn. creased production, cause significant However, a week later, at 07:00, on 26 stress in the lives of captive cranes, to April another chick hatched, was the extent that such egg production promptly dubbed Criptu, and still sur¬ exceeds normal expectations in the vives. This chick is the sole survivor of wild? the 8 eggs laid by Ektu during the 9. That the deaths of Pete and spring of 1979. Angus may have been the result of stress arising from different con¬ The uniquely long period of cap¬ ditions. tivity encompassed by the life of the single whooper Crip provided many fruitful opportunities for direct obser¬ Additionally, crane diet, intrain¬ vation over the years and, thus, dividual and interindividual behavior enhanced accumulated knowledge of of cranes in captivity, crane relocation an endangered species, hopefully to and accompanying stress, and promote its propagation and survival human interactions merit further in¬ both in and out of the wild. vestigation.

Several possible conclusions con¬ Finally, as a general impression cerning captive breeding programs resulting from this biographical study, involving Whooping Cranes emerge there is a need to expand current from this biographical study: research in captive breeding 1. That male crane fertility may ex¬ procedures and programs, to meet ceed 35 or more years. present and future objectives.

September, 1980. 38(3) 159 Reference Notes Linda Scarbrough, 10 December 1975. a. United States Department of the p. Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit, to the Interior: After 1957, the Fish and International Crane Foundation, 21 Wildlife Service added the Bureau of April 1976. Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, of which q. Erickson, R. C. Personal com¬ Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, munication to L. R. Di Sabato, San Endangered Wildlife Research, Antonio Zoo, 11 January 1974. became a part in 1966. r. Miller, D. B. Psychology Laboratory, b. Whooping Cranes of Audubon Park Dorothea Dix Hospital. Personal com¬ Zoo: A brief history. New Orleans, munication, 22 February 1979. Louisiana: Audubon Park Com¬ mission, 1 March 1974. s. Archibald, G. Personal communication to L. R. Forman, Audubon Park Zoo, 9 c. Lowery, G. H. Personal communication October 1978. to J. Knowles, Standolind Oil and Gas Company, 5 December 1956. d. Director, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Personal communication to W. R. Pohlman, Audubon Park Zoo, 26 May 1965. e. Acting Director, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Personal com¬ ^LCOCK, J. 1975. Animal behavior: An munication to W. R. Pohlman, evolutionary approach. Sinauer, Audubon Park Zoo, 29 September Sunderland, Mass. 1965. 2ALLEN, R. P. 1957. On the trail of f. Waikinshaw, L. H. Personal com¬ vanishing birds. McGraw-Hill, New munication, 2 March 1979. York. g. Cooperative Agreement between the 3ALLEN, R. P. 1952. The whooping crane. bureau and the Audubon Park Zoo, 4 Res. Rept. No. 3 of the Natnl. January 1967 and the San Antonio Audubon Soc. Zoo, 7 January 1967. 4ALLEN, R. P. 1950. The whooping crane h. Derrickson, S. R. Patuxent Wildlife and its environment. Audubon Research Center. Personal com¬ 52(2):92-96. munication, 5 February 1979. 5ALLENDER, J. and G. ARCHIBALD. 1977. i. San Antonio Zoological Gardens and The preliminary proposal: The re¬ Aquarium News, June, 1971. establishing of resident whooping cranes in Louisiana, New Orleans: j. Archibald, G. Personal communication Audubon Park Zoological Garden to J. Moore, Audubon Park Zoo, 3 and Baraboo, Wisconsin: Inter¬ August 1973. national Crane Foundation. k. Moore, J. Personal communication to 6BARTENBACH, J. 1969. Josephine, Rogers C. B. Morton, Secretary, queen of the whooping cranes. Out¬ United States Department of the door World 2(2):28-33. Interior, 25 January 1974. 7BEEBE, C. W. 1902. Rare birds in the l. Roberts, E. D. Necropsy request and zoological park. New York Zool. Soc. preliminary report, 1 March 1974. Bull. (7):35-38. m. O’Neil, J. P. Personal communication, 8CONWAY, W. G. 1957. Three days with a 29 January 1979. family of whooping cranes. Animal n. Kepler, C. B. Personal communication Kingdom 60(4):98-106. to L. R. Di Sabato, San Antonio Zoo, 8 9Crip, Jo Crane welcomed upon arrival at December 1975. Audubon Zoo. 1951. Times-Picayune, o. Moore, J. Personal communication to December 16:28.

160 Blue Jay 10Crip shows Ektu who’s the boss. 1976. The bird that defies extinction. E. P. San Antonio News, February 12:13A. Dutton, New York. ''DEWSBURY, D. 1978. Comparative 2'RAHN, H., A. AR, and C. V. PAGANELLI. animal behavior. McGraw-Hill, New How bird eggs breathe. Scientific York. American 240(2):46-55. '2ERICKSON, R. C. 1975. Captive breeding 22Rosie’s nest taken away. 1969. San An¬ of whooping cranes at Patuxent tonio Express, May 27:9A. Wildlife Research Center. In R. D. 23Rosie the whooper sits on 4th egg. 1969. Martin (Ed.), Breeding endangered San Antonio Express, May 15:1A. species in captivity. Academic Press, New York. pp. 99-114. 24Crip, San Antonio Zoo’s lone male whooping crane, and his new mate '3ERICKSON, R. C. 1976. Whooping crane Ektu, who recently arrived from studies at Patuxent Wildlife Research Patuxent Wildlife Research Center on Center. In J. C. Lewis (Ed.), breeding loan. 1976. San Antonio’s Proceedings of the International News from the Zoo, 2(2):2. Crane Foundation Workshop. 25SAUEY, R. T. and B. BROWN. 1977. The Oklahoma State Univ. Press, pp. 166- captive management of cranes. Inter¬ 176. national Zoo Yearbook, pp. 89-92. '“GRISWOLD, J. A. 1962. Proven methods 26SCHEIN, M. W. 1963. On the irrever¬ of keeping and rearing cranes in cap¬ sibility of imprinting. Zertschrift fur tivity. A special report: International Tierpsychologie 20:462-467. Wild Waterfowl Assn. 27STEVENSON, J. O. and R. E. GRIFFITH. '5HOFFMAN, H. S. and P. DePAULO. 1977. 1946. Winter life of the whooping Behavioral control by an imprinting crane. The Condor 48(4):160-178. stimulus. American Scientist 65(1):58-66. 28The whoopers arrive. 1976. The Brolga Bugle, International Crane Foun¬ '6 K E P L E R, C. B. 1 978. Captive dation Quarterly Newsletter, Spring propagation of whooping cranes: A behavioral approach. In S. A. Temple 2(3):1. (Ed.), Endangered birds: 29Three arrivals in white. 1978. The Brolga Management techniques for preserv¬ Bugle, International Crane Foun¬ ing threatened species. Univ. of dation Quarterly Newsletter, Winter Wisconsin Press, Wisconsin, pp. 231- 4(2):1. 241. 30WALKINSHAW, L. H. 1973. Cranes of the '7KEPLER, C. B. 1976. Dominance and World. Winchester Press, New York. dominance-related behaviour in the whooping crane. In J. C. Lewis (Ed.), 3'WALKINSHAW, L. H. 1951. Nesting of Proceedings of the International white-naped cranes in Detroit Crane Workshop. Oklahoma State Zoological Park, Michigan. Auk Univ. Press, pp. 177-196. 68(2):194-202. 18LOWERY, G. H. 1960. Louisiana Birds. 32Whooping crane. 1948. St. Louis (2nd ed.) Louisiana State Univ. Press, Zoological Park Bull. January, 2(1 ):1. Baton Rouge, pp. 221-224. 33Whooping crane lays egg — Park wants 19MAROLDO, G. K. 1978. Zoos worldwide rare bird back. 1951. Times- as settings for psychological Picayune, December 16:28. research: A survey. American 34Wildlife biologist to check on S.A. Psychologist 33(11):1000-1004. whooper’s fertility. 1968. San Antonio 20McNULTY, F. 1966. The whooping crane. Express, July 10:13C.

September, 1980. 38(3) 161