I suspected you'd say that, FBB! Along with Japanese Crested Ibis and Philippine Eagle, this is at the absolute top of bird species that I've not seen and would love to!
My shaky German suggests that the last Whooping Crane in Europe died in Berlin in 1909. The population is edging towards 400 birds, but I fear that it'll need to increase further before European crane aficionados can be satisfied!
The last Whooping Crabe in Europe died at Lilford in 1931. It had laid eggs annually, paired with a Manchurian Crane, also a female. After its death was announced in the Avicultural Magazine, the Duke of Bedford came forward to say that he had had two male Whooping Cranes until quite recent years, and wished he had known there was a hen at Lilford.
