when they're around people. With other animals, that may not be the case.
Starting soon, we'll evaluate the hormones in Alice's parents and siblings quarterly. We will be able to monitor stress hormone levels as animals age; for seasonal and/or weather-related changes; throughout the process of breeding, incubating eggs, and raising chicks; during transport to new facilities; and during quarantine.
Evaluating Alice's family will help us get a baseline on the species as a whole. We'll also be able to see where Alice fits in compared to her family. Ultimately, we want to create a database of hormonal norms for the Stanley cranes and use that information to contribute to improvements in husbandry and reproduction.
This story appears in the March 2016 issue of National Zoo News. Want animal tales delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the e-newsletter here.