South Africa's majestic cranes, the vulnerable Blue Crane, the endangered Wattled Crane, and the stable yet endangered Grey Crowned Crane. Join the nationwide census to help protect these iconic species and contribute to their conservation.
After a gap of nearly two decades, conservationists are bringing back South Africa's national crane census, hoping thousands of ordinary citizens will help build a clearer picture of the country's threatened crane populations during the census scheduled for July 24-27, 2026.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), in partnership with the International Crane Foundation (ICF), has relaunched the South African Crane Census, using WhatsApp to allow members of the public to report sightings of the Blue, Wattled, and Grey Crowned Cranes from anywhere in the country.
The initiative revives a project last conducted annually between 1998 and 2006, when volunteers across South Africa helped scientists estimate crane numbers and track where the birds were found.
The EWT said public participation would once again be central to understanding whether recent changes in crane populations reflect real trends and where conservation efforts should be directed.
