Family: Gruidae (Cranes)

Authority: (Lichtenstein, 1793)

Red List Category

Criteria: A3cde+4cde

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Justification of Red List category
The total population of the species had largely recovered owing to increases in the Western Cape population offsetting large considerable declines during the second half of the 20th century. However recent data indicates that this population, which comprises the bulk of the global population, commenced a decline in 2010 that has since proceeded at an annual rate of 2-3%: a rate suspected to lead to an overall population reduction of between 25-38% over the three generations from 2010 and into the future. Causes of the recent decline are unknown, although population modelling indicates that only a small decline in estimated recruitment at current low levels of adult survival would lead to rapid declines in the Western Cape population. Previous declines were attributed to direct poisoning, power-line collisions and loss of its grassland breeding habitat owing to afforestation, mining, agriculture and development, any or all of which may once again be impacting the species along with potential capture for trade. It is therefore listed as Vulnerable. If the recent rapid rate of reported declines slows, then the species status will need revision. 

Population size: 17000-30000 mature individuals

Population trend: decreasing

Extent of occurrence (breeding/resident): 1,890,000 km²

Country endemic: no

Attributes
Land-mass type - continent
Realm - Afrotropical
IUCN System - Freshwater
IUCN System - Terrestrial