Notable records of the Demoiselle crane found in Kafta-Sheraro National Park, Ethiopia
by IBC ~ June 23rd, 2009. Filed under: Conservation.Yirmed Demeke (PhD
The Kafta-Sheraro National Park, northwest Ethiopia supports the remnant elephant population in the expense of the Tekeze Valley, and it is home to many ungulates, predators and a variety of birds. An expedition to the National Park was carried out to assess the faunal diversity of the Park and learn the impacts of the major threats. In this expedition, more than 21,500 Demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo), about 9% of the world population, were recorded which can qualify the criterion for the Ramsar Convention.
According to the Ramsar Convention, a wetland should be listed as Ramsar Site if it fulfills criteria based on the number of the species and the nature of its habitat. Criterion 5 of the Convention states that a wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more water birds. The Cranes Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan of the IUCN state that there are over 240,000 Demoiselle cranes in the world. This record of the Demoiselle crane during this survey perhaps is the first report in Ethiopia. The population, estimated to be over 22,000 which comprises more than 9% of the world population, which is far more than what is stated by the Criterion of the Convention.
For more information contact Dr. Yirmed Demeke (Wildlife for sustaianable Decelopment: www.wsd.org.et)
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