European cranes were abundant in the UK before hunting and the draining of our wetlands wiped them out 400 years ago.
After centuries of decline throughout Europe, cranes are on the rise again and have recolonised the UK (about 15 pairs are breeding in East Anglia). But for a real chance of restoring their former numbers, cranes need a helping hand.
The Great Crane Project have been reintroducing cranes to the Somerset Levels & Moors since 2010. Collected as eggs in Germany, the chicks were hatched in the UK's Slimbridge Wetland Centre and raised by surrogate human ^parents^ dressed up as adult cranes. The birds are now showing signs of breeding naturally, meaning Britain will once again be home to a healthy population of these iconic animals.
Photographer
Nick Upton has been given privileged access to document the work of The Great Crane Project and to photograph the reintroduced birds. He has also traveled widely to photograph cranes throughout the rest of Europe.
Download our PDF story
here.
