Population Size and Trends. The Grey Crowned Crane was considered the most common crane in Africa in 2004 with the population estimated at 50,000 to 64,000 individuals (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2007). It has, however, been experiencing a steady long term decline across much of its range. When this species was uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable in the 2009 Red List update, there was some evidence to suggest that declines may have exceeded a rate of 50% during the past three generations or 45 years (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2007), but data were regarded as patchy and an overall decline of 30-49% was considered a more reasonable estimate. With the addition of more complete data, overall estimates suggest that the species’ global population has declined by over 50% in 19 years, and when these data are extrapolated to a period of 45 years, assuming an exponential trend, the calculated rate of decline is c.65-80%. This sharp decline, together with the fact that the issues causing this decline have been in existence since the 1960’s and are showing no signs of abating, has led to the uplisting of Grey Crowned Cranes from Vulnerable to Endangered in the 2012 Red List update (Birdlife International 2012). The Southern African Grey Crowned Crane is also listed in Column A, categories 1b and 1c and the East African Grey Crowned Crane in Column A, categories 1b and 3c of the AEWA Table 1a/. The status of the Grey Crowned Cranes sub-species was defined as follows in the Rwandan workshop: East African sub-species: Significant long-term population decline with fragmenting range and rapidly contracting area of occupancy. Southern African sub-species: Declined population with fragmenting range and contracting area of occupancy. Grey Crowned Cranes are most abundant in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, albeit that Kenya and Uganda have and continue to suffer significant declines in population. South Africa currently has the most stable and viable population on the African continent and the large floodplains of Zambia support a substantial and increasing population. Burundi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe all have relatively smaller, but still viable populations of between 100 and 2000 birds each. Botswana, Malawi and Namibia have very few Grey Crowned Cranes remaining, and the status of the species in the Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo is largely unknown. Of note is that Southern Sudan has recently reported sightings of Grey Crowned Cranes, a new species for the country, but still in very low numbers. This is likely a range extension of the species up the Nile River, from the northern parts of Uganda (Dodman pers. comm.) In collaboration and discussion with a number of experts in each of the range states in which Grey Crowned Cranes are found, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ (2012) estimated the number of Grey Crowned Cranes in each country. These, together with information collected at the action planning workshop and discussions for the 6th AEWA Conservation Status Review of Waterbird Population Estimates, outline the current estimated number of Grey Crowned Cranes in each country (Table 2). These are however only estimates and the varying opinions in the workshop on the numbers in each country highlight the need for improved estimates to be determined.
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Sources: International Single Species Action Plan, International Single Species Action Plan
Population Size and Trends. The Grey Crowned Crane was considered the most common crane in Africa in 2004 with the population estimated at 50,000 to 64,000 individuals (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2007). It has, however, been experiencing a steady long term decline across much of its range. When this species was uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable in the 2009 Red List update, there was some evidence to suggest that declines may have exceeded a rate of 50% during the past three generations or 45 years (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ et al. 2007), but data were regarded as patchy and an overall decline of 30-49% was considered a more reasonable estimate. With the addition of more complete data, overall estimates suggest that the species’ global population has declined by over 50% in 19 years, and when these data are extrapolated to a period of 45 years, assuming an exponential trend, the calculated rate of decline is c.65-80%. This sharp decline, together with the fact that the issues causing this decline have been in existence since the 1960’s and are showing no signs of abating, has led to the uplisting of Grey Crowned Cranes from Vulnerable to Endangered in the 2012 Red List update (Birdlife International 2012). The Southern African Grey Crowned Crane is also listed in Column A, categories 1b and 1c and the East African Grey Crowned Crane in Column A, categories 1b and 3c of the AEWA Table 1a/. The status of the Grey Crowned Cranes sub-species was defined as follows in the Rwandan workshop: East African sub-species: Significant long-term population decline with fragmenting range and rapidly contracting area of occupancy. Southern African sub-species: Declined population with fragmenting range and contracting area of occupancy. Grey Crowned Cranes are most abundant in Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, albeit that Kenya and Uganda have and continue to suffer significant declines in population. South Africa currently has the most stable and viable population on the African continent and the large floodplains of Zambia support a substantial and increasing population. Burundi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe all have relatively smaller, but still viable populations of between 100 and 2000 birds each. Botswana, Malawi and Namibia have very few Grey Crowned Cranes remaining, and the status of the species in the Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo is largely unknown. Of note is that Southern Sudan has recently reported sightings of Grey Crowned Cranes, a new species for the country, but still in very low numbers. This is likely a range extension of the species up the Nile River, from the northern parts of Uganda (Dodman pers. comm.) In collaboration and discussion with a number of experts in each of the range states in which Grey Crowned Cranes are found, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ (2012) estimated the number of Grey Crowned Cranes in each country. These, together with information collected at the action planning workshop and discussions for the 6th AEWA Conservation Status Review of Waterbird Population Estimates, outline the current estimated number of Grey Crowned Cranes in each country (Table 2). These are however only estimates and the varying opinions in the workshop on the numbers in each country highlight the need for improved estimates to be determined.
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