The newest resident of Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is Khing, a white-naped crane (Antigone vipio) just arrived from the Akron Zoo in Ohio.
Khing is the companion for the zoo’s three-year-old female white-naped crane, Cora. Their species are native to northern Mongolia, southern Siberia, Korea, Japan and central China and is classified as Vulnerable, facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. The total population is estimated at 3,700 to 4,500 mature individuals.
White-naped cranes reach maturity in their third or fourth year and form monogamous, long-lasting pair bonds that can last a lifetime.
“Khing is a wonderful addition to the Zoo’s demonstration of the rich biodiversity in nature,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho. “Khing and Cora are both young birds, but we are hopeful that we’ll see breeding activity this spring. This pair is a beautiful species that we know will educate and delight our guests.”
