The International Union for the Conservation on Nature (IUCN) estimates there are between 3,300 and 5,300 adult shoebill left in the world.
Shoebills also known as Whalebill, Whale-headed Stork and Shoe-billed stork, are mainly found in East Africa’s large swamps from South Sudan to Zambia.
These birds live in dense freshwater marshes.
In 2023, Bangweulu’s Shoebill Nest Protection Programme, of African Parks, reached over 1,500 people with educational sessions, about the birds.
This has seen a growth in the involvement of communities in conservation initiatives, to about 26 community members, who are actively employed as guardians of 13 shoebill nests 24/7, during peak nesting season (June-November).
They have assisted rescue and rehabilitation efforts of 12 shoebill chicks, over the past two years. Despite challenges, like attacks by red ants, the programme has positively impacted both shoebill conservation and contributed to community livelihoods.
African Parks said in statements about the Shoebill, before 2008, heavy poaching had decimated the area’s large mammals. Some species were completely wiped out, including lion, cheetah, and black rhino, while remnant populations of other species remained. Since then, protection measures and translocations have repopulated areas that were previously depleted of wildlife.
Bangweulu Wetlands is made up of seasonal floodplains and swamplands dominated by extensive stands of papyrus, floating grasses and reeds, all creating a lush 6,000km2 wetland landscape. Not only does this unique and exceptional area provide a haven for wildlife, but it’s an ideal habitat for a rich diversity of birdlife, including the shoebill (Balaeniceps rex).
The Shoebill Management Plan was first introduced in 2022, in partnership with the African Wildlife Conservation Foundation and Ashia Cheetah Conservation, the facility, equipped with state-of-the-art incubators and brooders, supports every stage of the chicks’ development.
In the field, the Shoebill Guard Programme employs local fishermen to act as guardians, ensuring the safety of shoebill nests, while researchers utilize camera traps to monitor the progress of eggs, chicks, and fledglings.
Community cooperation and enhanced awareness have resulted in a marked improvement in the number of nests producing fledglings over the years.
Picture: Lorenz Andreas Fischer and Mike Dexter