A Pair of Whooping Cranes, protected under the Endangered Species Act. -Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama

These highly endangered whooping cranes were on the brink of extinction in North America in the early 1940's when their population was down to only 15 due to habitat loss and over-hunting. Once in the tens of thousands, it's making a comeback, however, through protection of their wetland habitats and breeding/re-introduction and has slowly increased to over 800 today.

2019AnimalsCraneSandhill CraneWheeler National Wildlife RefugeWhooping Cranebirdswaterfowlwildlife