NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After nearly 80 years, North America’s tallest bird is finally coming home.
The Dow Chemical Company’s (NYSE: DOW) St. Charles Operations (SCO) announced today a three-year sponsorship of the Audubon Nature Institute’s Whooping Crane Recovery Program which plans to restore the endangered Whooping Crane to its native Louisiana environment.
“We are thrilled and honored to be a part of returning an indigenous species to Louisiana. Through this sponsorship, we will continue our commitment to nature and to improving the quality of life in communities across Louisiana,” said Tommy Faucheux, Dow SCO public affairs manager. “We look forward to watching the program move forward and ultimately restoring the Whooping Crane to its home in Louisiana.”
Based on Audubon’s successful Mississippi Sandhill Crane breeding program, the program will rely on natural breeding and assisted reproductive technologies to restore the native species to the Gulf South region. The program will establish a non‐migratory flock at White Lake in Vermillion Parish and will be the first time the species has lived in Louisiana since the 1930s.
Additionally, Audubon Nature Institute will sustain a captive population of 135 birds. The program will include animal care and husbandry, collaboration with international agencies and laboratory research.
The Whooping Crane, named for its whooping call, was declared endangered in 1967. This unique bird stands nearly five-feet-tall with a wingspan of about seven feet. The species can live for more than 24-years in the wild. Currently, the remaining Whooping Crane population is estimated to be fewer than 500 in the world, with about 400 cranes left in the wild.
“We appreciate Dow’s commitment to nature and restoring Louisiana’s environment,” said Dr. Betsy Dresser, Sr. Vice-President for Research at Audubon Nature Institute. “The Whooping Crane Recovery Program not only restores an endangered species, but also demonstrates the great potential of collaboration between business and science. The support from businesses and individuals in the community create new opportunities for Audubon Nature Institute to improve and research the world around us.”
Dow and Audubon Nature Institute share a commitment to innovation and community evident in the Whooping Crane Recovery program. Last month, The Dow Chemical Company announced a collaboration with The Nature Conservancy aimed at valuing and incorporating nature into global business goals, decisions and strategies.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
About Dow St. Charles Operations
Located in Hahnville, Louisiana, Dow St. Charles Operations (SCO) is integral part of the Greater New Orleans community. Dow SCO has a strong base of more than 1,100 employees who apply innovative and sustainable approaches to producing the elements commonly used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and personal care packaging such as shampoos, conditioners and lotions. In addition to the Whooping Crane Recovery sponsorship, Dow SCO continuously demonstrates a commitment to the Greater New Orleans community through partnerships with area schools, annual community events and charitable donations.
About Audubon Nature Institute
Audubon Nature Institute is a New Orleans-based not-for-profit which operates Audubon Zoo, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Audubon Park, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Entergy IMAX Theatre, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Wilderness Park, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center and Audubon Insectarium at the U.S. Custom House on Canal Street. Find out more by visiting AudubonInstitute.org.
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