Judge orders man to pay $85K in deaths of 2 whooping cranes

A man who mitted that he and a juvenile shot and killed two whooping cranes in 2016 must pay $85,000 and cant hunt until he completes 360 hours of public service.

sentence given Thursday to Kaen Constantin of Rayne is toughest ever in Louisiana for a crime involving one of endangered birds, International Crane Foundation said in a news release.

Whooping cranes are among world’s rarest birds, and are largest crane in rth America. 850 or so alive today all descended from 15 that lived in coastal Texas in 1940s. When released as juveniles, y are mottled brown and white. As ults, y’re about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall, white with black wingtips and have nearly fearless red caps.

Constantin pleed guilty Thursday to a misdemear violation of Lacey Act, which makes it illegal to transport wildlife, fish or plants taken in violation of any or state, federal or foreign law.

He was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution to state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, U.S. Attorney David Joseph said in a news release Friday.

International Crane Foundation rth America Program Director Liz Smith said in a letter to judge that it costs nearly $94,000 to raise, release and monitor a whooping crane in Louisiana.

Authorities said Constantin and a juvenile shot two cranes in May 2016 in Acia Parish. After finding that one y h retrieved was banded and fitted with a transmitter, y cut off its legs and threw transmitter into a crawfish pond.

“When initially approached by investigators shortly after crime, Constantin lied about his involvement, causing investigation to continue for nearly two more years before he finally confessed in April 2018,” U.S. attorney's news release said.

Until Thursday, highest punishment for someone involved in a whooping crane shooting was a $500 fine and 45 days in jail for Lane Thomas Thibodeaux, who shot one of birds in 2014.

“Judge Hanna said he would have given Constantin jail time under rmal circumstances, but that prisons in Louisiana are alrey overcrowded and dangerous due to pandemic,” crane foundation said, referring to coronavirus outbreak.

Hanna put Constantin on probation for five years. He said Constantin must complete 360 hours of community service related to wildlife conservation for Wildlife and Fisheries within that time and before he can hunt again.

"I think se birds are basically priceless,” Hanna said during hearing, according to crane foundation, which said he ordered Constantin to pay for one of two birds he and juvenile shot.

“This case sets a good precedent moving forward in Louisiana,” Smith said. "Whooping cranes are a valuable part of Louisiana’s cultural and natural herit, and people who choose to shoot m will face consequences.”

two cranes killed were both hatched in captivity in 2015 at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland and taken that December to White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Gueydan, Louisiana. y h been in wild for about five months and in Rayne area for about a month at time of shooting.

State wildlife nts h originally cited Constantin and juvenile on charges of violating Endangered Species Act, hunting from a public ro and obstructing justice.

“Our nts take any investigation of illegally shooting whooping cranes very seriously," state Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet said in federal release. "Chief of LDWF Enforcement Col. Ch Hebert and I applaud judge in this case for imposing severe monetary punishments to help deter anyone from this behavior.”

(Im Credit Pixabay)