Shoebills are enigmatic large birds of papyrus swamps in central Africa, facing habitat loss, disturbance, and capture for the live bird trade.
Live capture for trade causes extreme stress in solitary, wild birds that cannot adapt to captivity. Wetland drainage removes the specific papyrus swamp habitat they require. Disturbance at nests causes chick abandonment during the critical early brooding period. Ecotourism pressure at some sites is bringing birds into too frequent human contact. Captive shoebills in private collections suffer significant psychological distress.