The whooping crane was listed as endangered in 1970, has made a steady recovery, and its population has increased from just 21 individuals in 1941 to over 500 individuals today.
The whooping crane occurs only in North America, specifically within Canada and the United States, and is North America’s tallest bird. Though it once ranged throughout the Great Plains and Gulf Coast regions, the Whooping Crane population was decimated by hunting and habitat loss. The whooping crane was listed as endangered in 1970, has made a steady recovery, and its population has increased from just 21 individuals in 1941 to over 500 individuals today. The whooping crane’s progress toward recovery demonstrates the power of species management and reintroduction programs in promoting species recovery under the ESA.