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Now THAT'S an Angry Bird! Karate cranes get kung fu fighting in high-powered kick-boxing match
- Eurasian cranes raised from the egg as part of Great Crane Project in Gloucestershire
- Hunting and loss of wetlands led to species' extinction in UK by early 1600s
- Young birds to be released into the wild next month
By ELLIE BUCHDAHL PUBLISHED: 19:03 GMT, 20 August 2013 | UPDATED: 19:05 GMT, 20 August 2013
Forget little green pigs - this is how birds get really angry.With their own version of the Chinese martial art Wing Chun, these two Eurasian cranes show they're more than ready for their release into the wild next month. Unleashing kung-fu skills to rival Bruce Lee, one of the creatures rears its head and wings and launches a perfect kick at the other from mid air.
Ha-so! The adolescent Eurasian crane aims a well-timed kick at his opponent
You squawkin' to me? Keepers at the Great Crane Project said the cranes were only showing off in front of each other
Keepers say the two youngsters were just showing off in front of each other at the Great Crane Project at Crane School in Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Slimbridge, Gloucestershire.They will be released next month onto the Somerset Moors and Levels.The animals are taught how to forage and avoid danger by human carers, who wear disguises to prevent the cranes from becoming tame.
WWT aviculturist Amy King said: 'We are surrogate parents to the birds and try to teach them all they need to survive, but some things they just pick up on their own.'Here the young cranes are sparring, as many young animals do. It looks dramatic but for now it is just practice.'Once in the wild, they'll use these skills to determine their place in the pecking order and, if they need, to battle potential predators.'
Don't be givin' me your beak: The feisty young cranes are among 20 that were reared from eggs as part of the Great Crane Project's Crane School
Lookin' chick: Great crane aviculturist Amy King wears a disguise to prevent the animals from becoming tame as they are raised from tiny chicks into fighting fit adults
RSPB Great Crane Project Manager Damon Bridge said: "It'll be great to get this year's youngsters down here to join the other cranes.'They'll soon learn the ropes with the help of the more street wise older birds and with the support of our local farmers there's plenty of wild food for them to get stuck into.'Cranes were once a widespread and culturally significant part of British wildlife and many villages - such as Cranford in Middlesex or Cranmore in Somerset - take their names from the birds. But by 400 years ago, they had gone extinct as a breeding bird because of the drainage of wetlands and over hunting.The Great Crane Project is a partnership between the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, RSPB and Pensthorpe Conservation Trust.It has major funding from Viridor Credits Environmental Company, which is reintroducing birds to the Somerset Moors and Levels.
Ha-so! The adolescent Eurasian crane aims a well-timed kick at his opponent
You squawkin' to me? Keepers at the Great Crane Project said the cranes were only showing off in front of each other
Keepers say the two youngsters were just showing off in front of each other at the Great Crane Project at Crane School in Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) Slimbridge, Gloucestershire.They will be released next month onto the Somerset Moors and Levels.The animals are taught how to forage and avoid danger by human carers, who wear disguises to prevent the cranes from becoming tame.
WWT aviculturist Amy King said: 'We are surrogate parents to the birds and try to teach them all they need to survive, but some things they just pick up on their own.'Here the young cranes are sparring, as many young animals do. It looks dramatic but for now it is just practice.'Once in the wild, they'll use these skills to determine their place in the pecking order and, if they need, to battle potential predators.'
Don't be givin' me your beak: The feisty young cranes are among 20 that were reared from eggs as part of the Great Crane Project's Crane School
Lookin' chick: Great crane aviculturist Amy King wears a disguise to prevent the animals from becoming tame as they are raised from tiny chicks into fighting fit adults
RSPB Great Crane Project Manager Damon Bridge said: "It'll be great to get this year's youngsters down here to join the other cranes.'They'll soon learn the ropes with the help of the more street wise older birds and with the support of our local farmers there's plenty of wild food for them to get stuck into.'Cranes were once a widespread and culturally significant part of British wildlife and many villages - such as Cranford in Middlesex or Cranmore in Somerset - take their names from the birds. But by 400 years ago, they had gone extinct as a breeding bird because of the drainage of wetlands and over hunting.The Great Crane Project is a partnership between the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, RSPB and Pensthorpe Conservation Trust.It has major funding from Viridor Credits Environmental Company, which is reintroducing birds to the Somerset Moors and Levels.
