East Africa Joins Forces to Rescue the Grey Crowned Crane from Extinction

Conservation experts from Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi have concluded a landmark five-day workshop aimed at securing the future of the endangered Grey Crowned Crane across East Africa’s wetlands. Organized by the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA), the meeting brought together government officials, conservationists, researchers, and community leaders to forge a unified transboundary conservation strategy.

The Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), a bird revered for its striking appearance and cultural symbolism, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Although Rwanda has made commendable progress in crane conservation—increasing its population from 487 in 2017 to 1,293 in 2024—experts stress that regional cooperation is critical, as the birds often cross borders into neighboring countries with less coordinated protections.

“Cranes don’t need a passport to fly from Rwanda to Uganda or Tanzania,” said Dr. Deo Ruhagazi, Deputy CEO of RWCA. “If we protect them here, only to lose them across the border, then our efforts are in vain.”

Dr. Ruhagazi emphasized that the birds are increasingly found in border regions such as Nyagatare, Akanyaru, and Rugezi, and their movements—tracked via GPS—span a 24,904 km² transboundary region. This ecological landscape includes critical wetland habitats across all four countries, many of which are designated as Ramsar sites or Important Bird Areas.

“Cranes living in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park fly freely to Tanzania. Those near the Akanyaru wetlands cross into Burundi, and others in Nyagatare and Rugezi move into Uganda. Without cooperation across these borders, conservation efforts in one country risk being undone by habitat destruction or poaching in another,” Dr. Ruhagazi explained.

This reality sparked the transboundary collaboration initiative launched by RWCA in 2022 with partners in Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi — a movement backed by the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement’s (AEWA) Single Species Action Plan.

“These birds are part of our identity, our ecosystems, and our responsibility,” said Dr. Ruhagazi. “By working together across borders, we are giving them a fighting chance.”

The workshop, held from June 23 to 27, 2025, in Rwanda, was a major step toward formalizing transboundary cooperation. Stakeholders developed a draft regional conservation framework aligned with the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) Single Species Action Plan. Discussions focused on harmonizing policies, identifying habitat threats, improving law enforcement, and boosting community engagement.

Shared Threats, Shared Responsibility

Representatives from each country painted a sobering picture of the threats facing Grey Crowned Cranes, from habitat loss and wetland degradation to illegal trade and human-wildlife conflict.

“In Tanzania, wetlands are being converted into agricultural land to feed our growing population,” explained Emmanuel Mgimwa, from Nature Tanzania, a BirdLife International partner. “Farmers often view cranes as pests, which leads to the killing of chicks, eggs, and sometimes adult birds.”

Mgimwa added that belief-based use, including the poaching of cranes for traditional practices, poses another growing threat. Despite Tanzania’s vast wetland areas, its crane population is relatively low—an alarming trend he attributed to unchecked habitat destruction.

“This workshop is a game-changer. It creates a common vision across borders. We now understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and how we can support one another to save this species,” he said.

A Symbol Worth Saving

For Uganda, the Grey Crowned Crane is more than a bird—it’s a national symbol, featured prominently on the country’s coat of arms.

“We give the crane high priority,” stated Vincent Barugahare, Assistant Commissioner for Wetlands at Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment. “Anyone caught with a crane faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.”

Uganda is currently running a large-scale wetland restoration program, which Barugahare said is vital for giving the cranes a place to breed and thrive. Through partnerships with NGOs such as Nature Uganda and GIZ, joint wetland management plans are already in place in border areas shared with Rwanda and Tanzania.

“Wetlands don’t know boundaries,” Barugahare said. “Just like cranes, they stretch across our political borders. That’s why collaboration is not optional—it’s essential.”

Building a Common Future

Representing Rwanda Development Board, Richard Muvunyi, Head of Wildlife Health and Research Coordination, underscored the importance of shared data, joint research, and public education in ensuring long-term success.

“This meeting is not just about conservation—it’s about coordination,” Muvunyi said. “We need to raise awareness in schools, cooperatives, and through the media so that communities understand the value of cranes and their habitats.”

Muvunyi added that participants agreed on reinforcing existing laws and expanding advocacy efforts to protect the species. The exchange of knowledge and best practices among countries was also seen as a critical component of the workshop’s outcomes.

As the workshop concluded, participants committed to finalizing the transboundary strategic plan, with the goal of gaining endorsement from the East African Community (EAC). The plan will serve not only as a roadmap for saving Grey Crowned Cranes but also as a model for other regional biodiversity initiatives.

A Regional Conservation Milestone

With 133 trained community monitors already active across the region, RWCA and its partners hope that the momentum generated at this workshop will lead to stronger policy alignment, greater resource mobilization, and ultimately, a thriving future for Grey Crowned Cranes.