2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Balearica regulorum
The population trend was considered to be decreasing (BirdLife International, 2009;
Meine and Archibald, 1996a). In 1985 the total population was estimated to be >100 000
individuals (Urban, 1996), and in 1995 it was estimated to be 85 000-95 000 (Meine and
Archibald, 1996a; 1996b; Urban, 1996). In 2005, the population was reported to have declined
to 50 000-64 000 individuals (Beilfuss et al., 2007).
In 2009, B. regulorum was up-listed from Least Concern to Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List
on the basis that habitat loss and the illegal removal of birds and eggs from the wild have
driven rapid declines during the past three generations (BirdLife International, 2011a).
Threats: Principal threats to the species were considered to include the conversion and
degradation of wetland breeding grounds, capture for trade and domestication
(Beilfuss et al., 2007; Meine and Archibald, 1996b; Morrison et al., 2007b; Olupot et al., 2009;
Pomeroy, 1983), and poisoning (Howard, 2010; Smith, 2011).
B. regulorum was considered a highly valued ornamental bird on national and international
markets (Beilfuss et al., 2007), in high demand for private collections, breeding facilities,
safari parks and zoos (K. Morrison, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011). Illegal trade was reported
to be a major threat to the species (R. Beilfuss, pers. comm. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011;
International Crane Foundation, 2011; K. Morrison, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011) and both
legal and illegal trade were considered to be increasing (International
Crane Foundation, 2009; Morrison, 2006). The short lifespan and poor breeding success of
captive B. regulorum were considered to fuel the demand of specimens captured from the
wild (International Crane Foundation, 2011).
Overview of trade and management: B. regulorum was listed in CITES Appendix II on
01/08/1975. According to data in the CITES Trade Database, international trade 2000-2010
primarily consisted of live birds exported mainly for commercial and zoological purposes.
In total, exporters reported the direct export of 506 live birds over this period.
Approximately two-thirds of this trade involved captive-bred specimens and most of the
remainder was wild-sourced. In addition, small quantities of bodies, feathers, trophies,
skulls, eggs and garments were also exported principally as personal possessions and for
commercial purposes.
Beilfuss et al. (2007) noted that although several conservation programmes had been
initiated to mitigate the threats to B. regulorum in Africa, the control of trade required action.
Corruption, lack of resources, enforcement and awareness, and outdated and weak laws
were seen to contribute to the illegal trade on African cranes (Morrison et al., 2007a).
Meine and Archibald (1996b) reported B. regulorum was “legally (although not always
effectively) protected in Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and South Africa (Johnson, 1992;
Mafabi, 1991; Morris, 1987).” Often considered a sacred species, B. regulorum was reported to
have a protected status in many local communities (Meine and Archibald, 1996b).
K. Morrison (in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 17/10/2011) noted that apart from Tanzania, which
has implemented quotas for trade in the past, no other country seems to have implemented
specific regulations for wild harvesting and trade.
C. Country reviews
ANGOLA
Distribution in range State: The species is restricted to southern Angola (BirdLife
International, 2011; Mackworth-Praed and Grant, 1962; Sinclair and Hockey, 1996). Meine
and Archibald (1996b) indicated two isolated populations in the southern part of the
country, and Dean (2000) considered its distribution to be limited to “floodplains and
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