The cranes in the wetland.

The crested crane is Uganda national bird because it bears the colours of the national flag of Uganda.

Cranes.

In Uganda Crested crane birds are now threatened with extinction because of the rampant destruction of their habitats thus, reclamation of seasonal wetlands where the birds breed, poaching, trade and witchcraft. It has been estimated that the population of the crested cranes is 85,000-95,000 about 40 years ago, but is now less than 10,000.

This means that 90% of the crane population has perished in the last 40 years. Because of their cranes unique monogamous relationships, life traditional healers in rural Soroti are using the birds to perform rituals for their clients, which they give different body parts of the crane to their clients who believe could help them win and ensure their lover remains faithful to them.

The trade in bird has become very lucrative. Worse enough, there is currently no community cranes conservation programmes in rural areas of Uganda. Therefore there is, need to engage rural communities of Soroti District through this project by building their capacities with the needed knowledge and skills in protective conservation and management measures in order to save the threatened crane birds.