14 October, 2010: The Overberg Crane Group (OCG) has received a donation from a Lions Clubs International District Governor. Last year’s District Governor of the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Namibia, Elizabeth Wilkie, has given the OCG a financial donation. Lions Clubs International is the largest volunteer service organisation globally, with nearly 45 000 clubs worldwide.
Wilkie chose to give the donation to the OCG, after selecting the blue crane as her emblem for last year. Her slogan also followed the blue crane theme: reaching new heights.
She told the OCG that she now wants people to become more aware of South Africa’s national bird. “I chose the OCG to give back to the endangered species that is our national bird, and to help continue with the conservation thereof.”
According to the OCG’s Chairman, Mick D’Alton, the funds will be used to increase awareness of the blue crane and to upgrade the website. “We’re very appreciative of Elizabeth’s donation and the awareness she has created by choosing the blue crane as her emblem. The Overberg Crane Group works hard at protecting the national bird from the many dangers it faces, and we are pleased for all the help we get – in the form of donations or information – to help us to achieve that.”
The blue crane is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red Data List of Threatened Species. There are only some 25 000 blue cranes left globally. The bird has come under threat due to an increase in illegal trade, power-line collisions and poisonings.