Rare bird finally captured after escaping from Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah
May 22, 2025, 12:45 PM | Updated: May 24, 2025, 2:38 pm
The most recent photo of the rare bird, a juvenile East African crowned crane, on a property on Lake Sammamish. (Photo courtesy of Cougar Mountain Zoo)
(Photo courtesy of Cougar Mountain Zoo)
A rare bird that escaped from Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah has been captured.
The missing bird, a juvenile East African crowned crane, escaped its enclosure Wednesday.
KIRO-7 TV reports a resident near Lake Sammamish State Park spotted the beautiful bird Friday night and zoo staff safely retrieved her.
The zoo writes:
She is now back at the zoo, under the supervision of our staff and veterinarian, and will be closely monitored after her journey. Hatter, her boyfriend, is happy to have her back by his side!”
The missing crowned crane was previously seen around Lake Sammamish State Park and near Northwest Newport Way, just a short distance from the zoo, on Wednesday.
RELATED STORIES
Officials described the situation as urgent and are asking for the public’s help to safely locate and return the crane. If anyone sees the bird, contact staff immediately by emailing info@cougarmountainzoo.org. The zoo is calling the situation urgent due to the bird’s unfamiliarity with the surrounding area.
The zoo has not revealed how the crane escaped, just that the rare bird flew outside the zoo perimeter into a wooded area surrounding the zoo.
What is an East African crowned crane?
Crowned cranes are long-legged birds native to tropical Africa, known for their elegant appearance and elaborate courtship displays. Crowned cranes are Uganda’s national bird.
This is a developing story, check back for updates
Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.
