Both crowned crane species — the grey crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) and the black crowned crane (Balearica pavonina) — are classified as Endangered. In East Africa, they are captured for status symbols and garden ornaments, causing severe welfare harm and depleting wild populations.
Crowned cranes are highly social flock birds that show strong pair bonds and family cohesion. Capture from wild flocks causes acute panic, and transportation in cramped conditions causes leg fractures and wing injuries. Captive cranes held individually as garden ornaments show persistent distress calling, pacing, and feather destructive behaviour. Rehabilitation of long-term captive individuals is challenging because they lose flock integration skills needed for wild survival. Populations depleted by capture cannot fulfill their ecological role in wetland and grassland ecosystems of East Africa.