Lonely whooping crane that refused to mate helped save one of the world’s rarest birds

In 1976, ornithologist George Archibald began an unusual daily ritual, dancing beside a whooping crane named Tex in an attempt to save one of the rarest birds on the planet. Tex had been raised in captivity and had imprinted on humans rather than other cranes, meaning she showed no interest in mating with her own species. Archibald, co-founder of the International Crane Foundation, spent years mimicking crane courtship behaviour beside her enclosure, hoping to trigger the hormonal changes needed for her to lay a viable egg. After seven years of dancing and several failed attempts, Tex finally produced a fertile egg in 1982. The resulting chick, named Gee Whiz, went on to father generations of whooping cranes and remains one of conservation's most remarkable success stories.Why George Archibald danced with a whooping crane named TexAccording to the International Crane Foundation, Tex had been hand-raised at the San Antonio Zoo, which caused her to imprint on humans and reject other whooping cranes as potential mates. Since whooping cranes rely on elaborate courtship dances, involving wing flapping, bowing and jumping, to prepare physically for breeding, Archibald realised that only ...