The International Crane Foundation (ICF), in partnership with Crane International Foundation and the Endangered World Trust, is spearheading an ambitious and large-scale conservation effort aimed at protecting Kenya's wetlands and reversing the alarming decline in the population of the Grey Crowned Crane. Once a common sight across East Africa, the Grey Crowned Crane has now become one of the world's most threatened crane species. The population of this majestic bird has dropped precipitously in the past 35 years, making it a priority for wildlife conservationists.
The Grey Crowned Crane population has seen a drastic decline from over 35,000 cranes in 1986 to just around 10,000 today, an alarming figure that highlights the urgent need for intervention. Experts believe that habitat destruction, illegal wildlife trade, climate change, and widespread poisoning from farmers are some of the primary causes of this decline. Joseph Mwangi, Kenya National Manager, Crane International Foundation, explained the various factors that have led to the crane's current predicament. "In the last three and a half decades, we have witnessed a significant decline in the population of Grey Crowned Cranes.
Some of the biggest challenges include habitat loss due to wetland encroachment, increased use of pesticides and chemicals in farming, and illegal poaching for the pet trade," Mwangi noted. Wetlands, which serve as the primary breeding grounds for cranes, have been rapidly disappearing due to human encroachment, agricultural expansion, and climate-induced weather changes. In many regions, farmers seeking more land for cultivation have drained wetlands, destroyed natural vegetation, and introduced chemicals into water sources, all of which make these ecosystems unsuitable for crane breeding. Furthermore, some farmers have viewed cranes as pests, believing that the birds damage their crops.
In retaliation, cranes have been poisoned in large numbers, further contributing to their rapid population decline. "There is a common misconception that cranes cause damage to farms, leading to cases of intentional poisoning and persecution.
