With its striking golden crown, vibrant red throat pouch, and slender black legs, the crested crane is one of Uganda’s most treasured symbols, appearing on the nation’s flag and coat of arms. The bird’s significance extends to national pride, as all of Uganda’s sports teams bear its name. However, conservationists warn that this beloved species faces a critical decline and may edge toward extinction without urgent intervention.

The crested crane is legally protected, with penalties for killing one including a life sentence and a fine of 20 billion Ugandan shillings ($5 million; £4 million).

Historically, the bird also benefited from deep-rooted Buganda cultural beliefs, which considered it a symbol of wealth, good fortune, and longevity. Legend held that if someone killed a crane, its kin would gather at the culprit’s home, honking in mourning until the person lost their sanity or even died.

“Such stories instilled fear, and cranes would be respected and revered and not killed,” Jimmy Muheebwa, a senior conservationist at Nature Uganda, a local non-governmental organisation (NGO), said.

Despite this cultural and legal protection, farmers in western Uganda—where the cranes are most commonly found—appear largely unaware of the ban. The birds frequently invade farmland, feeding on maize crops, and many farmers see them as pests rather than as a species in need of protection.

“I really don’t see any value in these birds because all they do is raid our plantations and eat our crops. We are worried about food security in this area,” Tom Mucunguzi, a maize farmer from a village near Mbarara city in Western Region, said.

Fausita Aritua, a farmer near Mbarara, shared that she spends entire days chasing cranes from her fields or hires others to do so in her absence.

“We no longer harvest as much as we used to do because these birds eat everything,” she said.

Also known as the grey-crowned crane, this species is primarily found in Uganda but has a presence in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Though non-migratory, the cranes make local seasonal movements based on food availability, nesting conditions, and climate changes. Standing about one meter (3.2 feet) tall, they thrive in wetland habitats, where they breed and feed on grass seeds, small toads, frogs, insects, and other invertebrates.

However, the rapid growth of Uganda’s human population has led to increased agricultural activity in wetlands, significantly reducing the cranes’ habitat.

“In eastern Africa, the population has declined terribly by over 80% in the last 25 years,” Adalbert Ainomucunguzi, who leads the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in East Africa, told BBC.

In the 1970s, Uganda’s crested crane population exceeded 100,000, but today, only around 10,000 remain, according to Nature Uganda. This drastic decline led the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to put the bird on its red list of endangered bird species in 2012.

“Despite its serenity, beauty and popularity, the bird is facing a serious threat. It means that if no urgent measures are taken to reverse this trend, we might see the cranes pushed to extinction,” Dan Sseruge, a Ugandan ornithologist, said.

“Despite its serenity, beauty and popularity, the bird is facing a serious threat. It means that if no urgent measures are taken to reverse this trend, we might see the cranes pushed to extinction,” Dan Sseruge, a Ugandan ornithologist, told the BBC.

Tracking the birds has become increasingly difficult. Once abundant in the Mbarara landscape, sightings are now rare and typically occur only at dawn.

Conservationists attribute this decline to habitat destruction and poisoning incidents. Dozens of cranes have been found dead in Lwengo District after ingesting poisoned crops.

“One of the biggest threats against cranes is poisoning by the farmers. This is because the birds are causing a lot of crop damage,” Gilbert Tayebwa, a conservation officer at ICF, told BBC.

Farmers like Philip Ntare admit that cranes sometimes consume crops sprayed with agrochemicals, leading to unintentional poisoning.

“I just chase them, because I grew up knowing the crested crane is not supposed to be killed. But government should consider compensating farmers for crop damage,” he said.

However, John Makombo, director of conservation at the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), disputes this, asserting that deliberate poisoning remains a major threat.

“It is one of those precious species that have freedom to go anywhere and so unfortunately the government is not liable for any damage done by the cranes,” he said.

In addition to habitat loss and poisoning, the cranes face predation. Without the protective cover of wetlands, eagle attacks on crane chicks have increased.

“Sometimes breeding areas are flooded and nowadays some cranes are killed by electricity lines when flying,” Ms Kugonza said.

Additionally, the birds’ striking beauty makes them targets for illegal pet trade. Conservationist Aaron Ainomucunguzi warns that people are increasingly capturing cranes for ornamental purposes, further depleting wild populations.

“It is a highly monogamous bird as it pairs once, for life. This means that if one of them is killed or domesticated, the likelihood of finding a new mating partner is almost zero,” said Mr Muheebwa.

Crested cranes are unique in their breeding behaviour. They form lifelong bonds, attracting mates through elaborate courtship dances involving bowing, jumping, and synchronised movements. Pairs establish territories and fiercely defend them. Their monogamous nature has made them desirable to traditional healers, who claim that using crane body parts can promote fidelity in relationships.

Scientifically named Balearica regulorum gibbericeps, the crested crane follows a distinctive nesting cycle. The birds return to the same breeding grounds yearly, laying two to five eggs per clutch. Both parents share incubation duties, which last between 28 and 31 days. Any destruction of these nesting sites severely disrupts their reproductive success.

Their monogamy has led to local traditional healers claiming that parts of crested crane may bring faithfulness from a partner – or good luck.

“Some people have been caught hunting cranes to take some of their body parts to witch doctors in a belief that they will get rich. Or, if you are a woman, your husband will never leave you,” Mr Tayebwa from ICF said.

To combat the crisis, Uganda’s government and conservation groups are working to restore wetlands and educate communities on the importance of protecting the cranes.

President Yoweri Museveni, a native of the Western Region, has called for the removal of illegal settlers from wetland areas and declared 2025 the “Year of Wetland Conservation.”

Conservation organisations like the International Crane Foundation (ICF) have recruited local custodians to monitor breeding sites and protect the birds from poaching and habitat destruction. Nature Uganda’s Muheebwa acknowledges that these efforts have helped slow the decline but stresses that crane populations remain dangerously low.

The UWA plans to focus more on law enforcement to deter illegal killings and habitat destruction. Conservationists hope that a combination of stricter regulations, community involvement, and habitat restoration will help safeguard the future of Uganda’s national bird before it disappears from the wild entirely.

“We shall arrest and prosecute those who are poisoning the cranes,” he said.