The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says a female whooping crane released about a year ago has been shot in Vermilion Parish and had to be put to death.
Spokesman Adam Einck said Wednesday there's a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the conviction of whoever shot the endangered bird.
He says the bird was found Nov. 2 with an apparent bullet wound in her upper left leg and was euthanized the next day at the Louisiana State University veterinary school.
The department received a necropsy report Jan. 8 confirming that the crane had been shot.
Whooping cranes are among the world's most endangered birds. Louisiana is trying to build a flock in southwest Louisiana. This is the sixth to be shot.
Copyright 2015 WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio