Three endangered whooping cranes were shot to death in southern Georgia, wildlife officials say.
The three dead birds were found and reported by hunters near Albany, Georgia, on December 30, according to a release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The cranes, which were banded and fitted with radio transmitters, were part of a group of five that were migrating to Florida together, the service said. They had last been tracked 20 days earlier in Hamilton County, Tennessee.
The cranes are part of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership effort to reintroduce whooping cranes into the eastern United States. There are about 570 whooping cranes left in the world, 400 of which are in the wild, according to the wildlife service. About 100 cranes are in the eastern migratory population.
The cranes that were killed were not among those famously led south by ultralight aircraft, but instead were part of the Direct Autumn Release program, in which cranes are encouraged to follow other migrating birds, such as sandhill cranes.
In addition to the Endangered Species Act, whooping cranes are protected by state laws and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The wildlife service and Georgia Department of Natural Resources are investigating. Several organizations have contributed toward a $12,500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
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this aint good not one bit but i am young and i enjoy hunting. i do agree with the fact that this man or woman should pay and i know that when u hunt u double check b4 u shoot. my dad my brother and i dont shoot hen mallards and try not to kill female ducks because then eventually they will be endangered and hunting will become illegall so this person should fess up and take responsibility and volenteer to educate others why it is so important to listen to the law and leave the protected things alone . . . . . . . amen
I am a female who lives in a trailer in the south and married a redneck. My redneck would drive and stop and move the trutle away from the road so it won't be hit by other cars. Why do u think people like trailer trash would shoot those cranes? I don't even have a rifle. So I guess rich people enjoy shooting up animals so they can brag about something.
Why can't people just comment on the facts of the article and not turn these comments into a name-calling fest ?
The birds were endangered and should not have been shot. The people who did it broke the law and should face some consequences. But remember they are people - I think saying they should be 'shot', 'gutted', 'killed', etc. is going a little far.
Just keep things in perspective and try to be civil.
OK – thanks for listening.
Idiot
Moron
This is a teenager.
Ignore
teenager.
Ignore
Must be a hunter from Georgia, IQ is about right...
I think u need help.
I agree.
Yes, Jackie is right
Ah, but in reality steveo2504 needs help
Frontgate, you're either a complete idiot, or a troll. We're talking human life vs a bird. Yes it is endangered, yes, who ever killed those birds should be charged. I noticed you have plenty to say judging the maturity of a couple people, and agreeing with one who would even consider taking someones life over the death of a bird. Sad day.
For those saying "but its a HUMAN LIFE" – you do know that there is very solid evidence that links animal abuse to the sort of individual who commits murder simply because they can right?
Besides, there are 5 billion humans too many on this planet and most of them have so little capacity for thought that if stripped of the protection of the herd they would be dead within 3 months. We need to reduce our population so why not start with the mentally impaired individuals who contribute nothing to the species.
Jackie...right on my friend!!