Grey Crowned Cranes Make a Comeback in Rwanda
From How to Save It by Whitley Fund for Nature
December 17, 2025 · 13 min · Season 2 · Episode 1
About this episode
Dr Olivier Nsengimana discusses his innovative plan to save Rwanda's Grey Crowned Cranes and the importance of preserving their wetland habitat.
Rwanda’s Grey Crowned Cranes were in trouble before a vet and former gorilla doctor stepped in with an innovative plan to save the leggy bird, known for its striking plumage and elaborate courtship dance. Dr Olivier Nsengimana tells Kate and Edward how his campaign won support from both Rwandans and the government, boosting the crane's fragile population by 1,000 individuals. When you fall in love with nature, you can’t let your childhood superhero disappear, Olivier says. It's not just about saving the cranes, he says, but preserving the life-giving wetlands they inhabit for wildlife - and humanity. Olivier and his team at Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association, the NGO he founded, are now leading an ambitious plan to reverse declines in the crane across East Africa, with partners in Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. How to Save It highlights ingenious solutions from the world’s leading conservationists. To learn more about their work and to receive updates, sign up here https://bit.ly/WFN_Podcast_NewsletterSignup Find out more and watch Olivier's short film https://bit.ly/WFN_Podcast_Nsengimana Follow us on…
People in this episode
Hosts: Kate, Edward
Guest: Dr Olivier Nsengimana
Topics covered
- conservation
- wildlife
- Rwanda
- Grey Crowned Cranes
- wetlands
- biodiversity
Keywords
- Grey Crowned Cranes
- Rwanda
- conservation
- wetlands
- biodiversity
- Dr Olivier Nsengimana
- wildlife
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association
Places: Rwanda, East Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi
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