An in-depth collection of information on the Biology, Husbandry and
Conservation of the Crane Species. Worldwide, extinction of our flora
and fauna is proceeding at catastrophic rates. We humans are fouling our
planetary nest and making it uninhabitable both for many thousands of
wild species and ultimately ourselves. For utilitarian, aesthetic, and
ethical reasons, we must do all that we can to prevent extinction. The
most important conservation strategy for most species is habitat
preservation. This almost always means trying to prevent or to reverse
man-caused changes in the environment. While habitat conservation is the
key, captive breeding sometimes plays a crucial role. It may then be
possible to release captive-bred animals once their habitat has been
rescued, as has so successfully been achieved with the Arabian Oryx in
Oman and Jordan, and with the Hawaiian Geese bred at the Wildfowl Trust.
Even if no immediate prospect of release can be foreseen, endangered
species must be maintained in captivity to prevent extinction and in
hopes that habitat will one day be available. Captive management is not
only a vital conservation tool in helping to prevent extinction, but
there are also many spin-off benefits. The worldwide effort to propagate
and conserve cranes is a shining example. Not only have there been many
successes in rearing endangered cranes, but there has also developed an
international spirit of cooperation between individuals and institutions
in a dozen nations around the world. In addition to fostering
international good-will in this way, the captive cranes provide many
opportunities for research, answering questions that would be impossible
to resolve in the field.
