A Grey Crowned Crane, the national bird of Uganda,rescued from a sack on the back of a truck, recovers at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Entebbe, Nov 4, 2006 ...

An East African crowned crane that escaped from a Washington state zoo was found days after being on the lam, strolling on the town streets, and hanging with a group of "blue herons," officials said.

The young crowned crane flew outside the zoo perimeter into the wooded area surrounding the zoo around 2:30 p.m.," wrote the Cougar Mountain Zoo.

Nsengimana's work has seen their numbers soar from just 300 to 1,293. "The grey crowned crane is usually a symbol of wealth and longevity. It's also a sign of a healthy wetland," Nsengimana told AFP.