Cranes — Africa

“Cranes are among the most severely threatened of all bird families. Virtually all 15 species have suffered significant reductions in their geographic distributions and population numbers. Whooping, red-crowned and Siberian cranes are currently listed as endangered. Six other species are considered vulnerable to extinction, and another is near threatened... They have been exploited for trade and commerce, and they have conflicted with humans for agricultural resources. Many species are reliant on the world's edangered wetlands for food and nest sites. Moreover, most cranes are migratory and thus, have requirements for survival that often span thousands of miles... Their world understands no political boundaries yet they are subject to the whims of local, regional and national governments in times of both decline and recovery.”