Blue crane  (Grus paradisea)

The main factor responsible for the drastic decline of this crane since the 1970s is deliberate and accidental poisoning (2). Cranes are illegally poisoned where they are perceived as crop pests, and they may be indirectly affected by poison aimed at other species causing crop damage (8). The other major threat is the planting of large areas of suitable grassland habitat with trees for commercial plantations (2). As well as removing suitable habitat, this can result in wetlands drying out as run-off and groundwater flow is affected (8). Other threats include collisions with power lines, predation by dogs, and the illegal capture of chicks for food and for the pet trade (2). As human populations continue to increase, agricultural expansion, disturbance, persecution and livestock grazing also intensify and these threats are likely to become worse with time (7) (8).

As the population of the blue crane has plummeted, conservation action has increased (2). Measures taken to date include tighter legal protection for the species; research into the bird's ecology, biology and conservation status; surveys of the population; better habitat management on private land and the development of education programmes (7). Although the species occurs in 75 nature reserves in South Africa, just 200 breeding pairs are found in protected areas (8). There are a number of blue cranes in captive breeding facilities, but as yet, a reintroduction scheme to parts of the historic range has not been attempted (8). Providing that the species is well protected and that suitable habitat is restored, the wild population should be able to recover to an extent (8).