It was an ordinary day. The title for my story today, as you can see, is "Final Page for Special Love Story." Story is about one of the greatest interspecies love stories of our time that has finally come to an end. Walnut, a white-naped crane and internet celebrity, has passed away at the age of 42. She is survived by eight chicks, shelving stuff at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and by her human zookeeper, Chris Crowe, whom Walnut regarded as her mate for nearly 20 years. Walnut was a unique individual with a vivacious personality who thought of her caretaker, Chris, as her companion. The tale of Walnut and Chris has inspired internet fame and the occasional love song. Story dates back to Walnut's arrival at the National Zoo in 2004 on the campus at Front Royal, Virginia. She was the chick of two wild cranes who had been brought to the United States illegally and were later rescued by the International Crane Foundation. So...Walnut was hand-raised by Chris, and other humans, at the zoo, thus her thinking that he was perhaps her father. She was said to show no interest in breeding and even attacked male crane suitors. White-naped cranes are considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Less than 5,300 remain in their native habitats in Mongolia, Siberia, Korea, Japan and China due to habitat loss, pollution, nest predation and poaching. Walnut was the offspring of two wild-caught cranes, so convincing Walnut to breed was regarded as a priority. So, in stepped Chris who won her over by "observing and mimicking" the institute's male white-named cranes' actions during breeding season. Crowe offered Walnut food as well as grass and leaves for nest-building materials. When he flaps his arms in front of her, the tall majestic bird flaps excitedly in response and dances in a half-circle with her head bobbing. Once Crowe had gained her trust, he was able to artificially inseminate her using sperm from a male crane. The unique arrangement proved successful and Walnut has given birth to eight chicks. The fertilized eggs were given to other white-napped crane pairs who tended to them as their own. Of the eight white-napped cranes currently living at the institute, one is Walnut's chick and another is her grand-chick. Walnut's relationship with Chris seems to have been beneficial for Her health; at 42, she nearly tripled the median life expectancy of 15 years for white-naped cranes in human care. Walnut was born in Wisconsin in the summer of 1981. She was named after a local restaurant's popular walnut pie dessert! On the morning of January 2 keepers noticed that Walnut wasn't eating or drinking. Treats of mice, peanuts and mealworms weren't even accepted. Vets administered fluids and antibiotics and drew blood for analysis. Her health continued to decline and Walnut was hospitalized. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by an animal care team. Death was due to renal failure. Walnut was always confident in expressing herself, an eager and excellent dancer, and stoic in the face of life's challenges. Her species' survival depends on humans' ability to protect wetland habitats and a few more "Chris" impersonators along the way. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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A pair of white-naped cranes | | Chris and Walnut |
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