Champion Chick

Smithsonian's National Zoo recently announced a first in its 118-year history—the hatching of a rare wattled crane chick.

“This is a great milestone for the Smithsonian's National Zoo and for this species,” said Paul Tomassoni, the Zoo's curator of birds.

Destruction of its native wetland habitat in south-central Africa has dramatically decreased wattled crane populations, with an estimated 8,000 left in the wild. Currently, there are 63 wattled cranes in zoos in North America.

The chick’s parents had an arranged “marriage” of sorts. As part of the Wattled Crane Species Survival Program (SSP), scientists paired the two adult cranes based on their diverse and healthy genes. An SSP is a breeding program among American accredited organizations that ensures the creation and maintenance of a healthy and self-sustaining population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable.

When fully grown, this chick could stand at 6 feet tall and weigh about 14 pounds.

—LiveScience Staff

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Credit: Jessie Cohen/Smithsonian's National Zoo