RED DATA CATEGORY	Critically Endangered
DISTRIBUTION	Endemic to Southern Africa - Wetlands surrounded by natural grassland
POPULATION	235 individuals
ECOLOGY	Habitat and Breeding
MAIN THREATS	Habitat loss, powerline collisions, burning wetlands, chick capture
CONSERVATION	Maintenance of undisturbed, pristine to semi-pristine high altitude wetland and grassland areas within privately-owned farmland

DISTRIBUTION
The Wattled Crane is restricted to Africa with three main populations being recognised. The main population being found in south-central Africa (Zambia, Botswana, Angola, Zaire, Tanzania and Zimbabwe), while the other two smaller populations being in Ethiopia and South Africa respectively. Historically this species was widespread and formerly occupied all four “old” provinces of South Africa, being common in the eastern Transvaal, Natal, Orange Free State and extending as far south into the western parts of the Cape Province (Somerset West / Caledon). It currently occupies a vastly restricted range within the eastern higher rainfall regions of the country, with concentrations in the Mpumalanga Highlands and the midlands to southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Small numbers of breeding pairs are also present within the Wakkerstroom region, the Eastern Cape (3 breeding pairs in the north-eastern region) as well as the north-eastern Free State (2 pairs). Wattled Cranes are no longer present within the Western Cape and Swaziland, with very infrequent sightings in Lesotho.

POPULATION
Between 1982-84 and 1998, the South African Wattled Crane population has shown a 36,1 % decline from 360 individuals to the current population size of 230 individuals. The current population shows a population structure ratio of 2.29 : 1 (160 adults : 70 immatures), constituting 80 active breeding pairs and 30,4 % immatures in floater flocks concentrated predominantly within KwaZulu-Natal. The number of active breeding pairs has declined from 144 in 1982 to 80 in 1997, a 44,4 % decline over 15 years. Despite these declines, aerial counts of the KwaZulu-Natal population (constituting almost 80 % of South Africa’s population) suggests that it has increased slightly by 14 % over the last 5 years at an average rate of 2,9 % per year.

ECOLOGY
The Wattled Crane is the largest and rarest of the six crane species that occur in Africa. The Wattled Crane is a winter breeding wetland-dependent species with a peak in breeding activity between May and August each year, although breeding activity has been recorded in all months of the year. The threat of hail storms and nest flooding have been suggested for the Wattled Cranes tendency to nest within the winter months. Active breeding pairs are year-round residents of varying size highland marsh wetlands, sometimes using season wetlands opportunistically or as post-breeding dispersal areas. Pairs are strongly territorial and may defend territories several kilometres in size. These territories are highly specialized, comprising permanently inundated wetlands with predominantly sedge-based vegetation. Prolonged disturbance at nest often results in failed clutches. The highly extended breeding period allows individuals unsuccessful in their first attempt to renest the same season. The Wattled Crane’s reproductive rate is low, with the average clutch size being the lowest of any of the cranes. Pairs may lay either 1 or 2 eggs in a clutch, with the majority of the 2-egg clutches occurring in the KwaZulu-Natal population. In both cases only one chick is raised. Incubation period is the longest of any crane, c. 36 – 40 days. Pairs have an 82 % hatching success rate, with the second egg acting as an “insurance policy” against the first not hatching. The mean breeding success or mean number of chicks fledged per pair per annum is c. 0,67, with 62,2 % fledging success rate, fledging after 110 – 130 days. Juveniles remain with their parents for almost 12 months, after which they are expelled from the breeding territory or are taken to a non-breeding floater flock (essentially only in KwaZulu-Natal). Juveniles obtain full adult plumage after the first year, but only mature and breed for the first time at 8 or 9 years of age.

THREATS
Loss and degradation of wetland habitats constitutes the most significant threat to this species, mainly through the loss of wetlands to intensified agriculture, dam construction and industrialization. Grassland areas surrounding suitable breeding wetlands are as important to successful breeding as the wetland itself, with these grassland areas undergoing significant transformation through the planting of exotic timber plantations, a landuse totally incompatible with Wattled Crane survival. In addition, many hundreds of hectares of these grassland habitats are also being converted to intensive agriculture for food production. Management of wetland habitats also constitute a threat, with the frequent burning of wetlands as fire-breaks on farmland and particularly forestry property during the winter months (peak period for Wattled Crane breeding activity), leads to the loss of eggs or young unfledged chicks. Wattled Cranes, especially first-year inexperienced flying birds, are prone to colliding with powerlines, especially 11 and 22 kV rural powerlines, often located within the territories between roosting and feeding sites. Recently, many Wattled Crane individuals / eggs have been removed from the wild for the international bird trade, which can have a significant effect on a small breeding population, and is expected to increase if measures are not taken to control it internationally.

CONSERVATION
This species is reliant on the maintenance of undisturbed, pristine to semi-pristine high altitude wetland and grassland areas within privately-owned farmland. The key to the conservation of Wattled Cranes is to establish mechanisms to encourage private landowners to conserve these birds on their properties. Legislation protecting Wattled Crane habitat needs to be improved locally, while this species is currently included in CITES Appendix 2, with possible suggestions to downgrade it to Appendix 1 to control international trade, a potential threat to the populations in other African countries.

PROTECTED AREAS AND IBA's
Several nature reserves have been established for the protectin of Wattled Crane breeding pairs and their habitats. These include Verloren Valei Nature Reserve - Mpumalanga (2 pairs), Grassland Biosphere Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg Park, Umvoti Vlei (1 pair), Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve - KwaZulu-Natal (3 pairs), KwaZulu-Natal Mistbelt grasslands, Franklin Vlei, Melmoth Vlei - KwaZulu-Natal (2 pairs), Stille Rust - KwaZulu-Natal (1 pair).