By Jennifer Young
The significance of cranes bridges cultures and centuries.
Koreans have been performing a crane dance at the Tongdosa Temple since the year 646 AD. The Chinese have based many of their Kung Fu fighting techniques on the movements of cranes. Aristotle spoke about how cranes at the source of the Nile carried touchstones. During their heyday, Ottoman soldiers wore a crane feather to signify their heroic performance in battle. A Japanese legend claims that any person who folds 1,000 origami paper cranes will be granted one wish that a magical crane will fulfill. Worldwide, many cultures, including Native Americans, have held the crane in high regard. Yet, the only place you can view all 15 species of these renowned birds is in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Baraboo’s International Crane Foundation is a distinctive zoo and organization that was founded in 1973. Since 11 of the planet’s 15 crane species are endangered, with some dangerously close to extinction, the foundation travels all over the world to protect native crane populations. The foundation is currently working with almost 50 countries to protect and restore the cranes’ natural habitats and train communities to support the rare birds.
