WWT Llanelli welcome cranes to its grounds
A pair of red-crowned cranes is the newest addition to the Llanelli Wetland Centre family - and they are settling in well at their new home in Penclacwydd.
Originally from Marwell Zoo near Winchester in Hampshire, the male and female cranes were brought to the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust base in Llanelli to add to the already diverse bird collection. WWT also has a close link with cranes, having been a fundamental part of breeding and reintroducing the Eurasian crane to the UK, following its extinction 400 years ago.
These striking birds, which are classified as endangered, are the only crane species to have white primary feathers and, as their name suggests, have a patch of red skin on their crown, which becomes brighter during the mating season. Red-crowned cranes, originally from Asia, are highly aquatic birds and feed in deeper water than other cranes.
Richard Edwards, Grounds Manager at WWT Llanelli, said:
“We are really pleased at how well the cranes have settled into their new home here in Llanelli. Usually when new birds first get here they can be a little unsettled in their new environment but this pair of cranes has been displaying, exploring and enjoying their new enclosure. They have two good size ponds within the enclosure which they are enjoying immensely and we are hopeful that in years to come the pair will start to breed”.
The red-crowned cranes will join an array of spectacular ducks and geese from across the world, as well as a fabulous flock of Caribbean flamingos.
“It’s great to be able to offer our visitors something new to see in our collection. It’s quite a sight seeing their display” Richard added.
