Blue Crane Picture
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
[Image URL removed by moderator]
<p>
This is a Blue Crane, <i>Anthropoides paradisea</i>, photographed by my cousin Jaco. It is South
Africa's national bird. It occurs only in Southern Africa. Tragically, it is in danger of dying out. The wetlands and grasslands
that are its natural habitat have almost all been replaced by farms. Also, agricultural pesticides and poisons kill them. There are efforts underway to breed this and other crane species under artificial conditions. As far as breeding goes these programmes are
successful, but unfortunately when cranes are released back into the wild they almost all die of poisoning within a few weeks.
<p>
This is a Blue Crane, <i>Anthropoides paradisea</i>, photographed by my cousin Jaco. It is South
Africa's national bird. It occurs only in Southern Africa. Tragically, it is in danger of dying out. The wetlands and grasslands
that are its natural habitat have almost all been replaced by farms. Also, agricultural pesticides and poisons kill them. There are efforts underway to breed this and other crane species under artificial conditions. As far as breeding goes these programmes are
successful, but unfortunately when cranes are released back into the wild they almost all die of poisoning within a few weeks.
