Pioneering Surgery Gives Dennis the Crane a New Lease of Life

Summary

Dennis, a Eurasian crane from Pensthorpe Natural Park, underwent pioneering cataract surgery to restore his vision, marking a significant milestone in the Great Crane Project's efforts to reintroduce these birds into the British countryside.

Abstract

Dennis, a three-year-old Eurasian crane, became the first in the UK to receive successful cataract surgery, which was performed to improve his quality of life and enable his release into the wild as part of the Great Crane Project. This project aims to re-establish healthy populations of Eurasian cranes in Britain after their extinction in the wild during the 16th century. Dennis's operation, conducted by veterinary ophthalmologist David Gould, was the first of its kind in the UK and resulted in the full restoration of his vision. Post-surgery, Dennis has regained confidence, paired up with a female crane, and is expected to contribute to the breeding programme at Pensthorpe Natural Park. The Great Crane Project has been releasing 20 cranes annually since 2011, with the hope of naturally increasing the crane population in the UK. Pensthorpe is also home to other crane species, participating in international breeding programmes to support crane conservation globally.

Opinions

Damon Bridge, the Project Manager of the Great Crane Project, expressed relief and optimism about Dennis's successful surgery and the positive impact on his behavior and chances of survival in the wild.
Veterinary ophthalmologist David Gould highlighted the uniqueness of performing cataract surgery on a crane, given its rarity in birds, and expressed satisfaction with the successful outcome of the procedure.
The staff at Pensthorpe are hopeful about Dennis's relationship with a female crane, dubbed 'Mrs. Dennis,' and the potential for them to produce offspring, contributing to the reserve's breeding success.

He’s part of a crane reintroduction programme in Britain‏

Dennis, a three-year-old Eurasian crane from the Pensthorpe Natural Park in Norfolk, became the first crane in the UK to be successfully operated on for cataracts. He was part of the Great Crane Project, which restored healthy populations of Eurasian cranes into the British countryside, by releasing captive-bred birds into the wild.

Eurasian cranes were once widespread in the UK, but development and hunting resulted in their extinction from the wilds of Britain in the 16th century. Today, small populations of Eurasian cranes live in the Norfolk Broads and elsewhere in the UK, supported by the breeding programme.

A crane with strange behaviour

When Dennis first started displaying unusual behaviour, it was obvious that all was not well. He was spending a lot of time on his own and losing weight, so plans for his release were halted.

Damon Bridge, Project Manager of the Great Crane Project said: “It was obvious that Dennis wouldn’t be able to survive in the wild but the cause of his odd behaviour was a mystery. To find out that he was suffering with cataracts, and then to have his sight fully restored, is just fantastic. It must be a huge relief for him.”

Eurasian cranes at Pensthorpe © Susie Kearley

Dennis was looked at by a vet and diagnosed with cataracts — the clouding of the lens of the eye. It meant that his eyesight was cloudy and very poor, so he couldn’t see his food very well. He was struggling to eat properly and was losing confidence.

Cataracts are a common cause of blindness in dogs, and people get them too, but they are rare in birds. After a specialist eye examination, the decision was made to operate on both of Dennis’ eyes to remove the cataracts, restore his vision, and give him a better quality of life. It was the first operation of its kind in the UK and his sight was restored in both eyes.

The operation was carried out by veterinary ophthalmologist, David Gould, at his specialist surgery in Hertfordshire. He said: “I am used to performing cataract surgery in dogs and cats, and occasionally in more exotic species, but this was the first crane I have ever operated on. The cataract surgery was very successful and post-operatively Dennis was much more confident after regaining his vision.”

Before the operation, Dennis was unable to see much more than silhouettes, but now he can see well. He is fully recovered and has much more exciting things on his mind these days — he’s hooked up with a female crane that the staff at Pensthorpe call ‘Mrs. Dennis’. As the relationship blossoms, staff hope to see the couple produce baby cranes at the reserve.

There are other Eurasian cranes at Pensthorpe too, and some of the Eurasian young have been released into the wild as part of the Great Crane Project.

The Great Crane Project

The Great Crane Project was a five-year project beginning in 2011, during which time 20 Eurasian cranes were released into the wild every year. It was a huge success, repopulating the UK with this native species, and it is hoped that the birds will continue to thrive in the wild and their numbers will grow naturally.

Other species of crane at Pensthorpe

Dennis and Mrs. Dennis live alongside some other cranes at Pensthorpe, including Blue Cranes, Sandhill Cranes and Grey Crowned Cranes. The Sandhill cranes and Grey Crowned Cranes are non-native species, and they are there to tell the story of cranes around the world. They are also part of a breeding programme supplying cranes to British wildlife parks and zoos.

Sandhill Cranes

The Sandhill Cranes are native to North America, living on wetlands and prairies. They live together in large groups and make distinctive crying sounds that fill the air. In parts of America, these cranes are well established, but groups of Sandhill Cranes in Cuba and along the Mississippi River are endangered.

WILDLIFE