But for farmers in western Uganda, where the cranes mostly hang out, that fear has dissipated and often it is only conservationists who appear to know about the ban on killing them. "I really don't ...

The grey crowned crane, Uganda's national bird, faces a growing threat of extinction due to wetland loss, climate change, and hunting. Conservationists are calling for urgent action.

Also known as grey-crowned cranes, the birds are predominantly found in Uganda but are also in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The bird is protected by law - it stipulates a life sentence and/or a fine of 20bn Ugandan shillings for those found to have killed one. Going back centuries, local Buganda cultural superstition ...