Peace and Blessing hatch at Como Zoo

Como Zoo is celebrating a historic first with the successful hatching of two grey crowned crane chicks.
The chicks, whose sexes are not yet known, have been named Amani (ah-MAH-nee) , meaning “peace,” and Baraka (bah-RAH-kah), meaning “blessing.” Supporters of Como Friends had the honor of selecting the traditional Swahili names, which reflect the beauty of these remarkable birds and carry a hopeful message for their future.
Amani and Baraka hatched in a behind-the-scenes holding area in the giraffe building, where their parents selected the nest site. Their father, Houdini, arrived at Como in April 2023, followed by their mother, Mutambi, in June 2023. The pair was matched through a breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.
The arrival of Amani and Baraka marks Como Zoo’s first successful hatching of grey crowned crane chicks. The pair produced eggs during the previous two years, but none resulted in a surviving chick. With the addition of Amani and Baraka, four grey crowned cranes now live at Como Zoo.
Senior Zookeeper Jill Erzar reports that both chicks are doing well and growing quickly. Tan and brown with long legs, long necks and plenty of youthful awkwardness, they already look very different from the elegant adults they will become.
The chicks are offered a crumbled diet along with insects. Houdini and Mutambi help show them where to find food and will feed insects directly to them. Amani and Baraka are also becoming skilled little hunters.
“They have already started chasing down their own mealworms and crickets,” said Jill Erzar. “For me, the cutest thing has been seeing what a good dad Houdini is. He is very territorial and protective with us, but with the chicks, he will snuggle into the nest and take the time to feed them worms.”
For now, the family remains safely indoors while the chicks grow. Visitors may occasionally catch a glimpse of them through a mesh door in their holding area, but the chicks will not venture outside until they are large enough to be safe from hawks and other potential predators. Their well-being and the parents’ comfort will determine when they make their public debut.
Grey crowned cranes are known for their striking golden crowns, grey bodies, white-and-gold wings and bright red throat pouches. Native to eastern and southern Africa, they are most abundant in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The species is listed as endangered, with an estimated wild population of 29,500 to 36,000 birds that continues to decline.
Threats include wetland loss, habitat degradation, illegal capture and egg collection, poisoning, power line collisions and land development. Learn more about grey crowned cranes and conservation efforts through the International Crane Foundation.
Como Zoo recently became a sponsor of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Crowned Crane SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction program. Como partnered with the International Crane Foundation and a small group of other zoos to help lead the program’s creation. SAFE programs bring together the expertise and resources of accredited zoos, aquariums and conservation partners to protect threatened species in the wild.
The arrival of Amani and Baraka is an important milestone for Como Zoo, the crowned crane population in human care, and the broader conservation story these birds represent. For now, the two chicks are busy doing what growing crane chicks do best: eating, exploring, chasing insects and staying close to their devoted parents.