The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is offering a $5,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of someone who shot an endangered whooping crane.
DNR officials say they believe the whooping crane was shot in southern Greene County near the White River last December.
"The protection of our natural resources is our top priority," Indiana TIP President Joe Cales said in a statement.
Whooping cranes are protected by the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Indiana law.
The whooping crane in this case was part of an effort to reestablish a flock that is on a migratory path between Wisconsin and Florida.