Dusit zoo welcomes first sarus crane baby

BANGKOK, Nov 30 (TNA) – The Dusit zoo will unveil its first eastern sarus crane baby to the public on Dec 5. The zoo’s new member was born naturally on Aug 19 and is now three months old and one foot high. Its sex cannot be identified yet as their parents are aggressive to protect the baby. The baby bird has light brown color at its body and wings. Its head and part of the upper neck will turn red like their parents at the age of one year old. The eastern sarus crane is fully grown at the age of two years and will be ready to mate when it turns 4-5 years. Its lifespan is 40 years. On Dec 5, the Father’s Day, the crane baby will be displayed at the water bird exhibition zone. An exhibition about HM the late King Bhumibol will be arranged as well as wildlife conservation activities. The sarus crane is very large with gray wings and body with red head and part of the upper neck and a long greenish-gray pointed bill. The bird has a gray ear covert patch and an orange-red iris. The male is bigger than a female. It is recorded as the world’s tallest birds, which can fly. Its height is about 150-180 centimetres on average. It weighs about 5-9 kilogrammes. The zoo received the sarus crane couple from Nakhon Ratchasima zoo in 2010. It was brought back from extinction. The Zoological Park Organization released about 70 sarus crane to the wild in 2011. It is now one of the 15 preserved wild animals under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, BE 2535. (TNA)