The Wattled Crane is South Africa's rarest crane and one of Africa's most threatened waterbirds. Standing over 1.5 metres tall, it is the largest crane in the country and is easily recognised by its elegant grey plumage, white neck and distinctive red wattles. The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands supports one of the most important remaining populations of this species, making the Dargle area a key landscape for its conservation.Wattled Cranes depend on healthy wetlands and marshy grasslands for feeding, nesting and raising their young. They are highly sensitive to habitat disturbance, changes in water levels and the loss of wetland habitat. Because of these specialised requirements, their presence is widely regarded as an indicator of wetland health and ecological integrity. Protecting wetlands throughout the Dargle helps safeguard not only this remarkable bird, but the many other species that rely on these ecosystems.