Female Whooping Crane #14-11. Photographed in early 2016 by Bob Herndon.

Indiana Conservation Officers have partnered with Indiana Turn in a Poacher (T.I.P.), Friends of Goose Pond, the International Crane Foundation and Operation Migration to offer a substantial reward of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for killing female Whooping Crane #4-11 in Greene County, Indiana in early January.

On January 3, 2017 an International Crane Foundation volunteer found the crane near Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area. It is thought she was killed with a high powered rifle but her remains were sent to the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon for further testing.

The following conservation organizations have come together to offer the $10,000 reward:

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – $2,500
• Friends of Goose Pond’s board members – $2,500
• The International Crane Foundation – $1,000
• Indiana Turn in a Poacher (T.I.P.) – $500
• Operation Migration – $3,500

“Reintroducing an endangered species takes money, hard work, luck and expertise. I was privileged to fly alongside #4-11 and to help teach her to migrate. She survived on her own and made five trips south in the fall and back north in the spring. She found a mate and even produced a chick. Then to have someone waste all that time, effort and such a beautiful bird for nothing more that the pleasure of the kill is a selfish, wasteful tragedy,” said Operation Migration’s Joe Duff.

Indiana Conservation Officers are collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate this crime.

If you have information about this case please contact the Indiana Conservation Officer Dispatch at 812-837-9536.

If you would like to contribute towards the reward offered go here:
www.operationmigration.org or, contact Heather Ray at heather@operationmigration.org