A bird of African wetlands with a broad, shoe-shaped bill.
It has a large bill and sturdy legs for moving through marshes.
In Zambia’s Bangweulu Wetlands, local people have been employed to guard Shoebill nests since 2012, protecting breeding birds from disturbance and removal of eggs or chicks.
A rearing and rehabilitation facility opened in May 2022. Carers use Shoebill hand puppets and papyrus screens to reduce visual contact with people while raising chicks.
The 2022 account describes release once young birds can fly and catch fish, followed by GPS monitoring. Nest protection, rearing and follow-up form linked stages of the programme.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Threats include wetland loss, hunting, nest disturbance and removal of eggs and chicks for trade. The Bangweulu programme combines local nest guardians with chick rearing and release work.