Blue Crane vulnerable as numbers decline | Knysna-Plett Herald

The Knysna-Plett Herald reports on South Africa's national bird, the Blue Crane, being uplisted from 'near threatened' to 'vulnerable' status in the Regional Red Data Book 2025.

This conservation alert highlights the alarming 44% decline in Blue Crane populations in the Western Cape's Overberg region between 2011-2025, despite previous growth. With fewer than 30,000 birds remaining worldwide, the species faces mounting pressures from habitat changes, power line collisions, poisoning, and agricultural disturbances that have reduced breeding success to just 0.55 fledglings per pair.

• The Endangered Wildlife Trust and International Crane Foundation have developed a four-pillar conservation strategy focusing on habitat protection, energy infrastructure mitigation, crane-friendly agriculture, and enhanced research monitoring
• Major threats include farming practice changes, renewable energy development, and nest disturbances from high temperatures and human activity
• The Ford Wildlife Foundation provides crucial support through vehicle partnerships, enabling conservationists to access remote areas for population monitoring and farmer engagement across South Africa's diverse landscapes