Socio cultural significance of the national bird for Uganda – the Grey Crowned Crane

By Jimmy Muheebwa Project Coordinator - Crane and Wetland Conservation in UgandaJimmy.muheebwa@natureuganda.org / jimmy.muheebwa@gmail.com+256 772 550 177

The Grey Crowned Crane - features

Background; Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae Genus: Balearica Species: B. regulorum

National significance

National Bird for Uganda –

On flag, money National foot ballTeam, Bank,

schools …

Three colours of the flag – Black, Yellow and Red

Cranes of the world1. Black Crowned Cranes (Balearica pavonina)2. Black-necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis)3. Blue Cranes (Anthropoides paradisea)4. Brolgas (Grus rubicunda)5. Demoiselle Cranes (Anthropoides virgo)6. Eurasian Cranes (Grus grus)7. Grey Crowned Cranes (Balearica regulorum)8. Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha)9. Red-crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis)10. Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis)11. Sarus Cranes (Grus antigone)12. Siberian Cranes (Grus leucogeranus)13. Wattled Cranes (Bugeranus carunculatus)14. White-naped Cranes (Grus vipio)15. Whooping Cranes (Grus americana)

Distribution of Grey Crowned Cranes in Uganda

Distribution across districts in Uganda

Population estimates

Estimate for Uganda (Pomeroy, 1989) - 25,000 - 35,000

Current estimate (Muheebwa, 2003) = 13,000 – 20,000

A decline of 41 - 53% (Beilfuss et al, 2007).

Uganda plays host to about 28% of the global Grey Crowned Crane population

Population trendUganda LPI - updated with new crane data

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1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

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Animals as totems in UgandaNg’ali Grey Crowned Crane

Nyonyi nyange Cattle egret

Namung’oona Pied Crow

Ndiisa Wagtail

Nte Cow

Nsenene Grasshopper

Mpologoma Lion

Njovu Elephant

Nkima Colobus monkey

Nkula Rhinoceros

The ground horn bill - The Zulu communities strongly believe that it is a bird that has the power to bring down rain. When it appears the people of the community will expect heavy rains.   Conservation +++

Casqued hornbill – believed to be a bird of bad omen and people fear killing/ harming it = Conservation +++

The Hamerkop – Believed to possess the power to burn. It is believed that if one abuses / destroy's hamerkop nest their home will burn down. Conservation +++.  

The Owl it is closely associated to witchcraft. It is a bird that only appears at night. None is happy to have this bird sitting on their roof. When this bird is sitting within one's premises at night it is believed that it is sent by somebody to perform witchcraft = Conservation +++

Birds & beliefs in Africa

Cranes and Communities in UgandaNaming: Grey Crowned Crane - Balearica regulorum Entuuha/ Entuuhe – Runyankore/ Rukiga Engaali – Luganda (Central Uganda) Wawalu – Gishu/ Lunyole (Eastern Uganda) Walu – Madi / Langi (Northern Uganda)

Wetland management committees and crane custodians (local cadres) enhance crane conservation by caring for cranes, awareness, wetland habitat restoration to enhance breeding success

Evidence of tolerance of cranes and nests on privately owned land/ farms

Cranes elsewhere in the world

Cranes in Japanese textiles generally represent longevity and good fortune.

They are most closely associated with Japanese New Year and wedding ceremonies – for example the crane is often woven into a wedding kimono which is a special wish

It also represents fidelity, as Japanese cranes are known to mate for life.

Cranes in AsiaIn Asian - Chinese cultures,

the elegant crane is a symbol of health and longevity - precious qualities that  people hope to enjoy during their lives = Conservation +++ 

Traditional art forms, including wood carving, fabric making, pottery and ceramics utilize a crane motif that instantly sends a message of good luck to the happy recipient – Conservation +++

Cranes and people in Uganda

Intricate folklore interwoven with cultures Totem and cultural symbol / totem e.g. for

the Bahinda clan = Conservation+++ Time teller (circadian clock) Revered as a bird of good omen but

believed to cast a bad spell if hurt (this has increased its domestication!!= Conservation --- )

A symbol of fidelity – practices monogamy and faithfulness - flagship indicator for faithfulness in the HIV/ AIDS era = Conservation+++

Grey Crowned cranes, environment & the economy

Grey Crowned Cranes are indicators of environmental health

Great aesthetic value - tourism attraction potential

Birds (cranes inclusive) are probably the biggest foreign exchange earner in Uganda – birding circuits. Uganda was named the best birding destination in the world 2012

Cranes and the economy – cont’d

Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner generating about $1 billion (2012)

1006 bird species recorded in Uganda Birding constitutes a big proportion of

tourism – (Uganda has11% of the world bird species & 50% of Africa bird species)

$6 million reaped from birding based tourism (2008)

Dangers to cranes in Uganda

Threats to cranes in Uganda

Crane conservation in Uganda

Legislation - The GCC is the national bird for Uganda and its conservation is enshrined in: The Constitution (1995), The Uganda Wildlife Policy (1999) = protected as other species

Cultural – beleifs associated to the bird – Conservation +++

Conservation projects (NGOs) – awareness, monitoring, alternatives to use of breeding habitats in Uganda, mitigating crane removal from the wild = Conservation +++

Partnerships in crane and wetland conservation project

Thank you!