A shoebill stork, rescued as a young bird with injuries after Ugandan locals set fire to her habitat, made a huge impression on a visitor from the U.K., a 10-year-old boy from a family of zookeepers. Seventeen years later the pair have been reunited—and the stately stork, whose species is now critically endangered, still inspires awe.
Cameron Whitnall, 27, is a conservation champion, wildlife photographer, and TV host who works for his family’s two charities in southern England: Paradise Wildlife Park, and The Big Cat Sanctuary. And the shoebill stork is one of his favorite animals.
“The first time I saw a shoebill stork was at work when I was 10 years old, with my family, and it was Sushi,” Whitnall told The Epoch Times. “I just remember at the time being blown away, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I didn’t think it was real, I’d never seen one before, I’d never even heard of one … since that day, I’ve been obsessed with them….