Wattled crane (Grus carunculate) populations began to suffer in the 1980s, when agriculture, industrialization, and overgrazing of domestic animals significantly reduced the cranes’ wetland habitat. Despite strong conservation efforts made by local partnerships, the once-widespread South African popula­tion of the species fell to just over 200 birds by the year 2000.

The Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) was invited in 2001 to lead a series of workshops and help to define a future direction for the specie. Participants agreed that the way to give wattled cranes their best chance at survival was to ensure no more of their breeding sites were lost, to raise public awareness of the cranes’ plight, and to study little-known aspects of crane biology, compiling what they learned in a place they could all access. And they clarified the purpose of the captive popu­lation—to provide a strong, healthy source of birds for reintroduc­tion—which guided their short-term and long-term activities.