African country introduces life sentence for killing cranes

Uganda has introduced a life sentence for poachers who kill a rare species of crested cranes listed in the Red Book, Report informs referring to NTV.

“Its beauty and elegance were the reasons the crane was chosen as Uganda’s national emblem but the destruction of its habitat, and series of factors, is making it an endangered bird. The penalty for killing a crested crane is life imprisonment or pay Shs20 billion,” George Owoyesigire, the commissioner for wildlife, said February 18.

At the same time, the government doesn’t rule out an alternative to life imprisonment - a fine of $175 million.

The bird, scientifically known as Balearica regulorum gibbericeps, inhabited Uganda’s swamps and fields.

It has 16 different species in the world, four of which are found in Africa, including the ‘great’ Grey Crowned Crane in Uganda. There are about 8,000 Crested Cranes left in Uganda, down from 35,000 in 1989, according to the ministry.