• ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works
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      29 days ago

      At 42 years old, Walnut was considered geriatric for her species. She far surpassed the median life expectancy for white-naped cranes in human care, which is 15 years.

    • TragicNotCute@lemmy.world
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      29 days ago

      I found this particularly funny. It wasn’t like a funny accidental thing. Dude was trying to mate with the bird.

      In September 2004, Walnut arrived at NZCBI’s Virginia campus, where scientists regularly breed cranes that have behavioral or physical limitations by using assisted reproduction techniques, including artificial insemination. By observing and mimicking how NZCBI’s male white-naped cranes interacted with their mates during breeding season, bird keeper Chris Crowe gained Walnut’s elusive trust. He pair-bonded with her by flapping his arms in a manner similar to the species’ unison dance, offered her nesting materials and brought her food. Once she was receptive to breeding, Crowe was able to use sperm collected from a male crane to artificially inseminate Walnut without the need for physical restraint

      They had 8 chicks together.

  • Sigilos@ttrpg.network
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    29 days ago

    Can you imagine that workplace environment though?

    "Hey boss, I’m leaving for that 2 weeks paid training on how to catfish a bird my height and get it pregnant with a syringe. "

    “Don’t forget receipts for accounting.”

    This is such a wacky world, I love it.