2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Balearica regulorum
Management: The Wildlife Conservation Act of 2009 set the need for hunting licences and
permits for the capture of any animal (United Republic of Tanzania, 2009). B. regulorum was
not listed as a national game species under particular protection (United Republic of
Tanzania, 2009). However, the CITES MA of Tanzania (in litt. to UNEP-WCMC, 2011)
considered the export quota of 100 specimens per year not to be detrimental to the species’
survival, given that no offtake is allowed in protected areas, the species’ availability at
capture sites indicates a healthy wild population, and export is only permitted under
exceptional circumstances (i.e. zoos and scientific research).
A resident population was reported to probably occur in the Ugalla Game Reserve in
central-western Tanzania, although it was noted that the species was not “particularly
abundant” in the Reserve (Beckner, 2008).
ZAMBIA
Distribution in range State: The species has a wide distribution in Zambia except in the
north-west tip of the country (Benson et al., 1971; BirdLife International, 2011; Meine and
Archibald, 1996b). In the North-Western Province there are no records outside of the Kafue
National Park and it was reported to be scarce in the Northern Province, though common in
the Kafue Basin and the Luangwa Valley (Benson et al., 1971). However, Dodman (1996a)
reported occurrence in the plains between the Mweru Wantipa and Tanganyika lakes in the
Northern Province.
The CITES Scientific Authority of Zambia (E. Phiri in litt. to UNEP-WCMC 2011) reported
that it was a breeding resident in all Ramsar Sites and other wetland areas in Zambia,
particularly the Busanga Plains in Kafue National Park, Bangweulu Flats, Kafue Flats, Liuwa
Plains and South Luangwa National Park. Within the Kafue Flats area, the species mainly
occurred within the Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon National Parks (Dodman, 1996b).
Population trends and status: In 1985, the population size was estimated to be several
thousands of individuals; in 1994, it was estimated to be 5000-6000 (Urban, 1996). It
decreased to less than 3000 in 2004 (Beilfuss et al., 2007). The CITES SA of Zambia (E. Phiri in
litt. to UNEP-WCMC 2011) noted that according to surveys, the species had disappeared
from some areas of its historical range. Katanekwa (1996) reported that the range of the
populations in the Barotse Floodplains and associated floodplain areas had diminished over
the previous two decades, with only a small population of 80 birds left in the Liuwa Plains
area.
Flocks of 150-200 individuals were reported to occur on the Kafue Flats, the Busanga and
Liuwa Plains, and groups of 500 birds had been observed outside breeding season in the
Luangwa Valley (Dowsett, 2009 cited in E. Phiri, in litt. to UNEP-WCMC). The size of the
nesting population in the Kafue Flats area was estimated to be 200-300 individuals
(Dodman, 1996b). L. Roxburgh (pers. comm. to UNEP-WCMC 2011) considered the species
abundant in South Luangwa.
Threats: The main threats were considered to be habitat loss and degradation (E. Phiri in litt.
to UNEP-WCMC 2011; Katanekwa, 1996) and heavy use of pesticides (Meine and Archibald,
1996b). Further major threats included human disturbance caused by fishing, egg collecting
and nest raiding; and mammal and duck hunting activities (Kampamba and Pope, 1996).
Katanekwa (1996) considered hunting as a main cause of population decline, besides habitat
loss, in the Barotse Floodplains.
Trade: According to data in the CITES Trade Database, no trade from Zambia was reported
2000-2010. With the exception of 2000, all annual reports have been received for the period
2000 to 2010.
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