South Africa’s national bird, the blue crane, is teetering on the brink of extinction in the wild, prompting urgent conservation efforts. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has reclassified the species from near threatened to vulnerable on its Red List, signaling a sharp decline in its population. In the Western Cape’s Overberg region, a former stronghold, blue crane numbers have plummeted by 44% between 2011 and 2025, according to data from the Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts (CAR), a citizen science initiative.

Local farmer Mick D’Alton has witnessed the decline firsthand. “The shift to vulnerable status has sparked new focus on why these birds are struggling,” he told Reuters. Blue cranes, which rely on farmlands for feeding and breeding, are increasingly pressured by intensified agricultural practices. “Changes in crop types, increased farming intensity, and rapid land turnover are disrupting their breeding and chick-rearing,” D’Alton explained.

Living almost exclusively outside protected areas, blue cranes depend on working farmlands, making collaboration with farmers critical. However, threats extend beyond agriculture. Collisions with power lines pose a significant danger, as noted by Dr. Christie Craig of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). At a recent crash site, she observed, “This unmarked power line is a known hazard. A young blue crane hit it and, sadly, these collisions are usually fatal.” Conservationists are pushing utility companies to install diverters to reduce such incidents.

Additional pressures include climate change, fencing, poisoning, and expanding infrastructure. Craig highlighted poisoning as a major issue stemming from human-wildlife conflict. “Poisoning often results from farmers trying to protect crops. We need environmentally friendly solutions to crop damage, greater awareness, and stronger enforcement to curb this,” she told Reuters.

Without intervention, Craig warns, blue crane populations could crash dramatically within 20 to 30 years. Once a conservation success story, the species now faces a precarious future. The EWT is leading a multi-stakeholder initiative to address power line risks, mitigate agricultural impacts, and preserve remaining habitats, aiming to stabilize and, if possible, boost blue crane numbers before it’s too late.