[新聞] 幼鶴比試　大秀「中國功夫」

據英國《每日郵報》報導，英國格勒斯特郡斯林布里奇濕地鳥類公園兩隻身懷絕技的歐亞大陸幼鶴近日上演了一出精彩的對決，似已為下月放生自然做好充分準備。

這兩隻幼鶴是大鶴群基金專案(Great Crane Project) 的一員，將在下月放生到薩摩賽特濕地區(Somerset Moors and Levels)。

野生鳥類濕地基金會(WWT)的飼養員艾米·金說，這兩隻小家伙是野生鳥類濕地基金會鶴群學校的成員，在飼養員的帶領下學會了如何覓食和躲避危險。他們的決鬥是在對方面前互相炫耀自己的絕技。在學校裡，飼養員就是這些小鳥的代理父母，要教會小鳥們所需的生存技巧，但是有些技藝還是得靠它們自然習得。這也是一種生存技能，一旦在野外，鳥兒們將會運用這些技巧在同類中爭奪等級排序，甚至與威脅自己的捕食者決鬥。

鶴群曾一度是英國野生動物的重要部分，並且在文化上意義非凡。英國許多村莊名字的命名就來自於他們。400多年前，由於人們的過度捕殺以及濕地的流失，鶴群曾瀕臨滅絕。

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 monthIt has major funding from Viridor Credits Environmental Company, which is reintroducing birds to the Somerset Moors and Levels.

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.

收藏分享評分