Wattled Cranes are the most critically endangered crane species on the African continent, listed as"vulnerable", with only 7000 individuals remaining in the wild. In South Africa, only 250 individuals are left, facing a high risk of extinction. Wattle Cranes have very low reproductive rate (0.6 young per pair per annum) and are quite intolerant to disturbance while nesting. They will leave their nest when an intruder is still several hundred meters away.

Tarboton WR (1989): in The Complete Book of Southern African Birds, Ginn PJ, McIlleron WG, Milstein P le S (eds), Struik Publ, Cape Town, South Africa, p 193.

Wattle CraneRecovery Program