Crane Who Chose Zookeeper As Mate And Shunned Other Birds Dies At 42

Walnut's human caretaker said he'll "always be grateful" for their unique bond.

Walnut, a female crane who famously rejected her fellow birds in favor of a human named Crowe, has died.

The white-naped crane died of kidney failure at age 42 last month, according to a Wednesday announcement by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

In life, Walnut was more famous than the average crane because of her special relationship with zookeeper Chris Crowe, whom she seemed to consider her mate for close to 20 years.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has characterized Walnut as having a “crush” on Crowe, noting that she “never bonded” with other birds.

“She had chosen me as her mate,” Crowe told The Washington Post. “We were a big part of each other’s lives.”