There is growing concern about the future of South Africa's national bird, the Blue Crane, with a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium term, the Ford Wildlife Trust reports.

It points out that the Blue Crane has been officially uplisted from 'Near Threatened' to 'Vulnerable' in the newly published Regional Red Data Book 2025, with less than 30 000 of the birds remaining in the wild.

"The uplisting of the Blue Crane to 'Vulnerable' is a stark reminder that conservation is an ongoing battle, and our national bird needs us now more than ever. The Ford Wildlife Foundation is immensely proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and the International Crane Foundation (ICF) in this renewed, urgent fight," says Ford Wildlife Foundation manager Lynda du Plessis.

The foundation in 2024 donated a locally built Ford Ranger double cab bakkie to the EWT to enable the trust to undertake critical fieldwork.

"Our locally built Ford Ranger is more than just a vehicle; it’s a critical enabler, providing the robust, reliable mobility needed for conservationists to reach remote areas, reinvigorate vital citizen science projects like the Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts (CAR), and engage directly with farmers and communities," Du Plessis comments.

"The Ford Ranger provided by the Ford Wildlife Foundation is absolutely vital. It ensures we can reach remote CAR count routes, investigate nest failures caused by disturbance or high temperatures, consult with farmers on crane-friendly agriculture and conduct critical power line mitigation work in the renewable-energy zones.

"The Ranger's all-terrain capability means our teams can respond rapidly to incidents, monitor populations effectively, and foster the farmer relationships that are the backbone of this conservation effort. It's the reliable partner that allows us to be present in the landscape, where the Blue Cranes need us most," adds EWT/ICF senior conservation manager Dr Damian Walters.

The EWT team undertakes extensive fieldwork, recently completing its thirtieth yearly crane aerial survey across KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape.

As part of its fieldwork, satellite trackers are fitted to Wattled Crane chicks, while unmanned aircraft systems (drones) are used to improve nest monitoring.