WATTLED CRANE RECOVERY PROGRAMME E Ensuring that Wattled Cranes continue to grace the skies and wetlands of South Africa

www.wattledcrane.co.za

EEnnssuurriiinngg tthhaatt WWaattttllleedd CCrraanneess ccoonnttiiinnuuee ttoo ggrraaccee tthhee sskkiiieess aanndd wweettlllaannddss ooff SSoouutthh AAffrriiiccaa Wattled Cranes (Bugeranus carunculatus) are the most highly endangered and rarest cranes on the African continent. Historically, Wattled Cranes were far more abundant and widely distributed throughout South Africa. Sadly, a 38% decline over just two decades has left the population Critically Endangered and facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. A scare 250 individuals remain in South Africa with the most significant population residing in isolated pockets in KwaZulu Natal. Wattled Cranes are already locally extinct in the neighboring countries, Lesotho and Swaziland.

In July 2000, concern over the decline of the species in South Africa, and its potential genetic uniqueness, led to the initiation of a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment Workshop, where it was determined that a captive breeding and release programme could play a significant role in ensuring the long-term survival of the species and thus the Wattled Crane Recovery Programme was initiated. The Wattled Crane Recovery Programme (WCRP) aims to prevent the local extinction of the Wattled Crane in South Africa by breeding Wattled Cranes in captivity and releasing their offspring into existing wild flocks. A captive breeding flock of Wattled Cranes was created by collecting abandoned eggs from the wild and costume rearing the resultant chicks to prevent human imprinting. Once the breeding flock begins producing a significant number of chicks, their offspring, along with any additional chicks produced from abandoned wild eggs will be costumed-reared at the Bill Barnes Crane and Oribi Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal and subsequently released into existing Wattled Crane flocks in an effort to bolster the wild population.

RReessccuuiiinngg WWiiillldd WWaattttllleedd CCrraannee EEggggss:::

While the vast majority of Wattled Cranes lay one egg per clutch, a small percentage of females will lay a two egg clutch. In such cases, however, the second egg merely serves as an insurance policy in case the first egg does not hatch. Soon after hatching, Wattled Crane parents will lead the first chick away from the nest to avoid predation, abandoning the remaining egg in the process. Ezemvelo KwaZulu Natal Wildlife, the provincial conservation authority issues an annual permit to the WCRP for the collection of these “second eggs”, as this has no known detrimental effect on the productivity of the wild population. The process begins with an annual aerial survey of known nest sites conducted by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife with assistance from the Endangered Wildlife Trust. The annual survey is then supplemented by monthly aerial surveys throughout the breeding season. A fieldworker visits the double egg nest sites on foot and measures the length, breadth and weight of the eggs. A mathematical equation is then used to determine potential hatch dates. The soon to be abandoned second egg is only removed from the nest when its older sibling has begun hatching. The rescued egg is hatched in an incubator and flown to Johannesburg through the generous support from Airlink. The chick then reared by humans wearing crane costumes to prevent human imprinting. EExx SSiiittuu BBrreeeeddiiinngg FFllloocckk ggeettss nneeww hhoommee aatt tthhee WWaattttllleedd CCrraannee BBrreeeeddiiinngg CCeennttrree;;; JJoohhaannnneessbbuurrgg ZZoooo CCoonnsseerrvvaattiiioonn BBrreeeeddiiinngg FFaarrmm The WCRP currently manages 16.9% of the world’s ex situ Wattled Crane population. Offspring of the captive flock will be used to supplement the wild population via release into existing Wattled Crane floater flocks in KwaZulu Natal. All Wattled Cranes in the ex situ breeding flock and their progeny remain property of Ezemvelo KwaZulu Natal Wildlife, the provincial wildlife conservation authority and are managed through a rigorous set of guidelines and protocols to maximize their health and increase their reproductive capacity. In February 2010, a dedicated Wattled Crane Breeding Centre was created at the Johannesburg Zoo Conservation Breeding Farm in Parys, South Africa thanks to the generous support of the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust. Here, experienced aviculturist will apply various assisted reproduction techniques in an attempt to crack the code to successful reproduction of Wattled Cranes; ensuring that a significant number of chicks are produced on an annual basis to increase the Critically Endangered wild population. SSaavviiinngg WWaattttllleedd CCrraanneess uussiiinngg ccrraannee ccoossttuummeess aanndd ppuuppppeettss::: Over the past thirty-three years, researchers in North America have been successfully saving endangered crane populations through the release of captive-reared crane juveniles using a method referred to as puppet-rearing or costume-rearing. A human caretaker dresses in a crane costume with a crane puppet- head on the end of one arm and acts as a surrogate parent for the juvenile cranes. Costumed caretakers introduce the young cranes to life in the wild and teach them appropriate life skills such as, where to find food and how to avoid being eaten by predators. The Wattled Crane Recovery Programme is currently making plans to utilize the costume-rearing technique to rear and release Wattled Cranes in the KwaZulu Natal midlands. Feasibility trials to assess the potential success of using this technique South Africa were conducted during which 7 costume-reared Wattled Cranes were released into wild flocks in KwaZulu Natal. A year after release, 100% of the chicks were still surviving and living with the wild flock and one of the birds released in 1999 is still alive today! The Wattled Crane Recovery Programme and the KwaZulu Natal Crane Foundation are working together to create a rearing for release site on the foundation’s Bill Barnes Crane & Oribi Nature Reserve in Nottingham Road. CCrreeaattiiinngg aaWWaattttllleedd CCrraannee cchhiiicckk--rreeaarriiinngg ffaacciiillliiittyy aatt tthhee BBiiillllll BBaarrnneess CCrraannee && OOrriiibbiii NNaattuurree RReesseerrvvee::: In order to rear Wattled Cranes for release into the wild, funds are being sought to construct a specially designed chick-rearing facility to acclimate young birds to life in the wild. Young birds must be protected from cold winter weather until such time that they are old enough to “rough it in the wild”. The chick-rearing facility will include incubation and hatcher room, and a brooder room with seven individual indoor units equipped with hatches and one-way glass that prevents chicks from seeing their human caretakers. Seven adjoining naturalized enclosures will be constructed outdoors to allow tiny chicks to explore their natural Wattled Crane chick-rearing facility at the JHB Zoo environment in total safety.

The chick-rearing building will resemble the existing facility pictured here, which is currently being used to rear Wattled Cranes at the Johannesburg Zoo.

A large predator-proof exercise pen will be created next to the rearing facility and will contain several small pools with natural wetland plants to teach small chicks how to select appropriate natural food. As the chicks mature, costumed caretakers will walk them throughout the nature reserve to acclimate them to their natural habitat. Once the chicks are old enough to live to tolerate very cold temperatures, they will be moved to a roosting pen to prepare them for release into the wild. RReellleeaassiiinngg WWaattttllleedd CCrraannee cchhiiicckkss iiinnttoo tthhee wwiiillldd::: Wattled Cranes mate for life and once a pair has bonded, they leave the flock and establish a territory to raise their young in. Only one chick is raised each year. Wattled Crane families are very close but the parents rarely associate with other Wattled Cranes. Once a year however, when their chicks are nearly fully grown, Wattled Crane parents will return to the flock. They will remain in the flock while their juvenile offspring learns to socialize with other Wattled Cranes. Once the parents are confident that the chick is developing appropriate social skills, they leave the chick with the flock and return to their territory to raise another chick. This is great news in terms of releasing puppet-reared chicks into wild flocks, as the flocks naturally accept new members at certain times of year and the chicks have lots of similar aged youngsters to associate with. Puppet-reared Wattled Crane juveniles that are ready for release into the wild will be fitted with colour-coded rings for identification purposes. A light weight radio-transmitter will be attached to their legs and used to track them to ensure they are staying with the flock and learning all the necessary social and behavioural skills. Once they have reached full maturity, they will hopefully pair up with wild Wattled Cranes and establish territories of their own, thus ensuring that this magnificent bird continues to grace the skies and wetlands of South Africa! PPllleeaassee jjjooiiinn uuss iiinn oouurr eeffffoorrttss ttoo ssaavvee tthhee WWaattttllleedd CCrraannee!!!

The Wattled Crane Recovery Programme is a not-for–profit conservation initiative aimed at preventing the local extinction of the Wattled Crane in South Africa by releasing puppet- reared Wattled Crane chicks into Critically Endangered wild populations in South Africa. Please help us ensure that Wattled Cranes continue to grace the skies and wetlands of South Africa. Tax deductible contributions can be made through our website at www.wattledcrane.co.za and will be used to support the Wattled Crane Ex Situ Breeding Programme and the Wattled Crane Release Project.