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The iconic crested crane, Uganda's national bird, is rapidly declining, with conservationists warning it may face extinction.
Once abundant in Uganda, the bird's population has plummeted from over 100,000 in the 1970s to just 10,000 today.
Listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2012, the cranes now face multiple threats, particularly from farmers who view them as pests.
Farmers in western Uganda, where the cranes are mostly found, are frustrated by crop damage caused by the birds. Some have resorted to poisoning them, with dozens dying in recent years from ingesting poisoned maize and rice.
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Efforts to control the bird population have led to conservationists seeking alternative methods, such as scarecrows, to protect crops without harming the cranes.
The birds’ habitat is also under threat due to expanding agriculture, particularly in wetlands, where the cranes breed and feed. Wetland destruction and flooding are diminishing safe spaces for the cranes, leaving their chicks vulnerable to predators like eagles.
Despite being protected by law, which imposes severe penalties for killing a crane, the bird faces growing threats, including illegal hunting for body parts, believed to bring good luck or ensure faithfulness.
This has intensified the challenges for conservationists.To counter this, the Ugandan government, along with local conservation groups, is taking action to restore wetlands and protect breeding grounds.
President Yoweri Museveni has even declared 2025 a year of wetland conservation. Although progress is being made, experts like Jimmy Muheebwa from Nature Uganda, who spoke to the BBC, say the situation remains dire, with crane numbers still "very low."
Efforts to protect the cranes continue, but urgent action is required to prevent further decline and eventual extinction.