The crested crane, with its golden crown, red throat pouch, and slender black legs, is a cherished symbol in Uganda, appearing on the national flag and coat of arms. It also lends its name to the country’s national sports teams. However, the bird’s population has been in decline, and conservationists warn it could face extinction without urgent protective measures.
Protected by law, killing a crested crane carries a penalty of life imprisonment or a fine of 20 billion Ugandan shillings ($5 million; £4 million). Historically, Buganda cultural beliefs safeguarded the bird, associating it with wealth, good fortune, and longevity. Superstitions deterred people from harming cranes, as it was believed their kin would mourn noisily until the killer succumbed to madness or death.
Despite these protections, farmers in western Uganda, where the cranes are most commonly found, see them as pests. Many are unaware of the legal ban on killing them. Farmers like Tom Mucunguzi from near Mbarara city complain that the birds raid plantations and threaten food security. Others, such as Fausita Aritua, say they spend entire days chasing cranes from their maize fields.
Also known as grey-crowned cranes, these birds inhabit wetlands across Uganda and parts of Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Though non-migratory, they move locally based on food availability, nesting sites, and weather conditions. Standing about 1 meter (3.2 feet) tall, they rely on wetland ecosystems for breeding and feeding on seeds, insects, frogs, and other small creatures.
However, as Uganda’s human population grows, wetland areas are being converted for agriculture, reducing the cranes’ habitat. Conservationist Adalbert Ainomucunguzi from the International Crane Foundation (ICF) warns that the population in East Africa has plummeted by over 80% in the last 25 years. Uganda had more than 100,000 crested cranes in the 1970s, but today, only about 10,000 remain, leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to classify them as endangered in 2012.
Finding cranes around Mbarara is increasingly difficult, with sightings mostly limited to early mornings. Conservationists say their numbers have dwindled due to habitat loss and poisoning by farmers, particularly in Lwengo district, where many have been found dead after ingesting pesticides used in rice and maize fields. Gilbert Tayebwa, an ICF conservation officer, is working with farmers to use alternative deterrents like scarecrows. Some farmers, such as Philip Ntare from Lwengo, claim the birds are unintentionally poisoned after consuming chemically treated crops. Others believe the government should compensate for crop losses, though officials say this is not feasible.
In addition to habitat destruction and poisoning, cranes face threats from predators like eagles, as well as infrastructure development. Flooded breeding grounds and collisions with power lines are also contributing to their decline. The birds’ striking appearance makes them a target for the pet trade, though they rarely breed in captivity due to their strong monogamous nature. If one partner is killed or captured, the surviving crane may never find another mate.
Traditional healers have also fueled illegal hunting, claiming crane body parts can bring good luck or ensure a partner’s fidelity. Conservationists are working to dispel such myths and enforce legal protections.
To combat the decline, the Ugandan government and conservation groups are promoting wetland restoration. President Yoweri Museveni has urged wetland encroachers to leave and has declared 2025 the “Year of Wetland Conservation.” The ICF has recruited custodians to protect crane breeding sites, and authorities are taking stricter legal action against offenders.
While these efforts are helping stabilize the situation, Nature Uganda’s Jimmy Muheebwa warns that crane populations remain critically low. The Uganda Wildlife Authority’s John Makombo emphasizes that law enforcement will be key to ensuring the species’ survival, stating, “We will arrest and prosecute those poisoning the cranes.”
