Whooping Cranes belong to the group of waterfowl and wading birds that learns to migrate from parent birds, travelling by day and apparently memorizing the landscape and picking up other clues. The family group typically remains together over the winter and flies back north in the spring. This poses problems for the captive breeding program, since cranes reared in captivity will have to be taught where to migrate to before they can be released, and then may not be able to survive the winter. 

The United States and Canada have set up several programs to protect this species. During migration, Whooping Cranes can often be found with Sandhill Cranes, which are a species that is legally hunted. In several states where there are hunting zones for Sandhill Cranes, the hunting season can be closed if Whooping Cranes are spotted. The Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, the Whooping Crane Conservation Association, the National Audubon Society and other conservation groups have generated a great deal of publicity about this bird in order to heighten public awareness of the plight of this species. 

The objectives of the recovery plan for 1998/1999 are: 
1) to study in greater depth the foraging ecology of the crane; 
2) to continue studying the use of the ultralight aircraft to teach captive-reared Whooping Cranes to migrate, as has been tested on Sandhill Cranes; and
3) revision of the recovery plan by a joint Canada/United States recovery team. 

The long-term objecitves are: 
1) to establish 40 breeding pairs in Wood Buffalo National Park by the year 2000 and for 10
years; and
2) to establish two other wild populations, each with a minimum of 25 breeding pairs, by the year 2020 (one a nonmigratory flock in Florida, the other a migratory flock nesting in Manitoba's Interlake Marsh area. This latter population will need to be taught a new migratory route, from Canada to the Gulf Coast).

Summary of research and monitoring activities: 
- 1986 to 1997: researchers conducted breeding ground surveys to monitor nesting effort in Wood Buffalo National Park.
- 1988 to present: the use of staging areas in Saskatchewan by Whooping Cranes was monitored.
- 1993 to 1994: the team tracked Sandhill Crane migration routes in order to identify their wintering areas, to determine whether Sandhill Cranes could be used as guide-birds for Whooping Cranes.
- 1996: crane breeding habitat was described, including the types of marsh habitat cranes use in Wood Buffalo National Park. 
- 1996 to 1998: a study was undertaken of Manitoba's Interlake Marsh area; this Manitoba
site is the preferred introduction site as it provides the best degree of isolation for a new flock from the existing Wood Buffalo National Park flock.
- 1996 to present: biologists are investigating the species' food sources on their breeding grounds, predominantly small fish, insects, small mammals and seeds and berries. 

Summary of recovery actions from 1988 to 1998: 
- Ongoing: an active public awareness program in Saskatchewan.
- 1993 to present: development of a Canadian captive breeding facility (currently containing 20 Whooping Cranes) at the Calgary Zoo.
- 1997 to present: Canadian and U.S. breeding centres are sending young for release in Florida; the Florida population consisted of 62 cranes in 1997.
- 1993 to 1998: release techniques for a migratory reintroduction are being developed in Canada and the U.S. Ultralight aircraft are being used to teach a specific migration route to surrogate Sandhill Cranes, and training flights with Whooping Cranes are also underway. 
- 1993 to 1994: a comparative study of three potential captive-release sites along the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border was conducted. Results indicate that all sites have suitable habitat, but that the most southerly site (Yorkton) would be the most cost efficient. 
- 1997: egg collection was discontinued after 30 years, during which 232 eggs were collected in Wood Buffalo National Park to establish and maintain captive rearing centres in the U.S. (228 eggs) and Canada (4 eggs).
- 1997 to present: Canadian and U.S. breeding centres are sending young for release in Florida. The Florida population consists of 62 cranes (1997). 

Summary of progress to date: 
Habitat protection on the nesting and wintering grounds over the last 75 years provided conditions for the recovery of this species. Captive breeding facilities in Canada and the U.S. are providing the stock for reintroduction and creation of a new migratory flock. There were good habitat conditions on the breeding grounds in 1997 and a record of 49 nesting pairs. Sixteen of these pairs hatched two young each (twins) and two pairs successfully raised both young. 1997 was the first in 34 years that "twins" arrived on the wintering grounds. To downlist the species to "threatened" requires a minimum of 40 breeding pairs in the Wood Buffalo National Park population for at least 10 years (a stable population). The population has had three consecutive years of more than 40 pairs breeding.