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West African crowned crane
You’ll find our two males West African crowned cranes – called Turnip and Swede – in the paddock opposite Gems of the Jungle.
Order:
Aves
Class:
Gruiformes
Family:
Gruidae
About the West African crowned crane
West African crowned cranes have a dark grey plumage with red cheek patches and a crown of stiff golden feathers.
They are omnivores and feed on grasses, seeds and some roots, as well as insects such as grasshoppers, locusts and flies. They will also eat molluscs, fish, crustaceans, amphibians and small reptiles.
This species lives in open grasslands, marshes and meadows near lakes and streams. Unlike other species of crane, West African crowned cranes are also known to roost in trees.
Conservation
West African crowned cranes are considered Vulnerable in the wild and suffer from a wide range of threats, from droughts and water management measures (such as the creation of dams) to hunting and habitat degradation. Their habitats are being damaged by farming, pollution, oil and gas drilling, and conflict in the region.