Uganda’s cherished crested crane, a symbol of national pride featured on the flag and coat of arms, is on the verge of extinction. The bird’s population, which numbered over 100,000 in the 1970s, has declined sharply in the decades after to just 10,000 today. Although protected by law—which imposes severe penalties on anyone killing a crane—many farmers view the bird as a pest, blaming it for crop damage. Conservationists report instances of cranes dying after ingesting pesticides, either accidentally or intentionally. Increasing human encroachment on wetlands, where the cranes breed and feed, has further eroded their habitat. The species’ strict monogamy magnifies the impact of each loss because if one crane is killed or captured, the surviving mate rarely finds another partner. Efforts by the Ugandan government and NGOs to restore wetlands, enforce legal protections, and educate communities are underway, but conservationists say the bird’s numbers remain critically low.
Source: BBC