The Wattled Crane has received a huge amount of attention lately, and for good reason. This species is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’, as only 250 individuals remain in South Africa. Owing to their low numbers, extensive management of this dwindling population is necessary. A national Wattled Crane Captive Breeding Programme was implemented by the Southern African Crane Foundation and the Highlands Crane Group during 1995/96, and coordinated by the South African Crane Working Group (a working group of the Endangered Wildlife Trust). This project aims to reintroduce Wattled Cranes to areas where their numbers are so dangerously low that it is unlikely that they will regenerate their populations of their own accord.

   Second eggs that are about to be abandoned by their crane parents are taken from the wild and incubated. Because the chicks will imprint on people, they are reared by human ‘crane mothers’ dressed in costumes and using hand puppets which resemble crane heads. This is a time- consuming and lengthy process in which ‘crane mothers’ teach the birds to feed and fly. The project is worthwhile because of the critically endangered status of these birds. The farmers, landowners and farm workers in the area have given whole-hearted support to this project and have watched the cranes’ progress with great interest.

   This programme had its first real success during 1997/98 when five Wattled Cranes were successfully hatched and raised, and were eventually released into the wild on Verloren Vallei Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga (just outside Dullstroom) during March 1998. They managed to survive out in the wild and faced all the normal, natural dangers successfully.

   On 16 October 1998, two of the young cranes were killed by colliding with a 22 kV powerline on a farm in the Middelburg district of Mpumalanga. This unfortunate incident tarnished the initial success of the Wattled Crane Captive Breeding Programme. However, on reporting the incident to the Eskom/EWT Partnership coordinator and Eskom’s Corporate Environmental offices, a priority was immediately placed on mitigating this powerline, as the remaining three Wattled Cranes were still in the vicinity. Bird Flappers, the new marking device designed by Eskom to make powerlines more visible to birds, were immediately ordered from PLP in Pietermaritzburg and couriered up to the site. By the following day, 300 m of the powerline where the incident took place had been marked with Bird Flappers, thereby making this line ‘bird safe’. Peter Nelson (Eskom Corporate Environmental Affairs), Chris van Rooyen (Eskom/EWT Partnership) and Donovan Bovey (Eskom Middelburg Depot) need to be thanked for their immediate response to this problem at such short notice.

   This incident shows the significant impact that powerlines have on our wildlife, particularly birds. It was for this very reason that Eskom established a strategic partnership with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to address the issue of interactions between powerlines and wildlife. We would like to urge everyone who has powerlines on their property, irrespective of their size, please to be aware of the potential impact these structures can have on birds, to regularly check for dead birds under powerlines, and to report these incidents to Chris van Rooyen (Eskom/EWT Partnership coordinator) by using the Eskom/EWT tollfree number: 0800 111 535

   However, the problems did not end there. Three weeks after this incident, the remaining three Wattled Cranes were found poisoned on the neighbouring farm in the Middelburg region. Despite all efforts, these birds died because of the illegal use of poison at the hands of humans. Poisoned grain was found at the site of their death and this is believed to have been used as bait to catch ‘food’.

   The Poison Working Group is offering a reward for any information leading to the successful prosecution of the person(s) responsible for the death of these three special Wattled Cranes. In its first year of a ten-year programme, the Wattled Crane Reintroduction Programme has suffered a serious setback with all five released birds having been wiped not eight months since their release.

   The Poison Working Group and the South African Crane Working Group appeal to farmers to report cases of poisoning immediately. They should also persuade fellow farmers to act responsibly when using agrochemicals. Many farmers in the area are to be commended on their responsible use of agrochemicals and their collaboration with the Poison Working Group. This incident should not be tolerated within the agricultural community and we appeal for a concerted effort to prevent similar incidents occurring.

   We thank ESKOM, the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Mazda Wildlife Fund for sponsoring and supporting this important work in securing our heritage of beautiful cranes.

Perhaps one can take some comfort from these tragic events, and that of the Tawny Eagles, in as much as they demonstrate clearly and emphatically the importance of poisons and powerlines - the two perilous Ps - in causing declines amongst our larger bird species. Readers of Bird Numbers are urged to report all observed incidents to the relevant people in the EWT Working Groups, and thereby support them in their efforts to raise awareness of these issues and effect change in the manner in which powerlines are installed and poisons are used - Ed.