Uganda’s Crested Crane Nears Extinction as Farming and Hunting Threats Mount
Uganda’s precious crown crane is a symbol of national pride on flags and badges, on the verge of extinction. In the 1970s, the bird had a population of over 100,000, and over the decades, it has only dropped sharply to just 10,000 today. Despite the protection of the law – severe penalties were imposed on anyone who killed the crane, many farmers regarded the bird as a pest, blaming it for crop damage. Conservationists report examples of cranes that die after pesticide ingestion. Human encroachment of wetlands for crane breeding and feed further erode habitat. The species’ strict monogamy amplifies the effects of each loss because if a crane is killed or captured, fewer surviving partners will find another partner. Ugandan government and NGO efforts to restore wetlands, enforce legal protection and educate communities, but conservationists say the bird’s numbers are still very low.
source: BBC
