{"id":258139,"date":"2026-01-29T19:47:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T19:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/258139\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T19:47:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T19:47:16","slug":"extraordinary-shoebill-encounter-has-more-tourists-hoping-to-see-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/258139\/","title":{"rendered":"Extraordinary shoebill encounter has more tourists hoping to see them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jan. 28, 2026Updated Jan. 29, 2026, 11:53 a.m. ET<\/p>\n

Last November, a prehistoric-looking shoebill landed on a tour boat in Mabamba Swamp on the shore of Lake Victoria in Uganda. The imagery was captured in a manner that made the shoebill, perhaps 4 feet tall, appear imposingly larger.<\/p>\n

The massive “dinosaur bird” seemed to dwarf tourists during the extraordinary encounter.<\/p>\n

We featured Mabamba Trips<\/a>\u2019 footage in a post<\/a> that went viral. So this week I asked “Innocent the Guide” if his Instagram post and the publicity it generated has impacted regional tourism. (See post below.)<\/p>\n

\"Prehistoric-looking<\/p>\n

He said yes, adding: \u201cWe have been seeing many people visiting and asking about it. Recently I had group of nine people who came to see the shoebill and now most tour companies in Uganda have now started taking Mabamba Swamp as their first priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Shoebills, named for the shape of their razor-sharp bills, maintain a striking presence in the dense wetlands of East-Central Africa.\u00a0The towering birds might remain stationary for hours before ambushing prey with incapacitating blows.<\/p>\n

In the air, shoebills resemble flying dinosaurs, boasting wingspans of up to 8 feet.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, shoebills are classified as \u201cVulnerable<\/a>\u201d throughout their range, with a decreasing population of perhaps fewer than 5,000 mature individuals. (Habitat loss and agriculture are major threats.)<\/p>\n

This sad reality is partly why birders travel to Africa in the hope of seeing them, before that opportunity becomes further diminished.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Massive ‘dinosaur bird’ stalks, devours snake in African swamp<\/a><\/p>\n

On a positive note, appreciation for shoebills is soaring, at least at Mabamba Swamp, where shoebills are strongly protected.<\/p>\n

From Innocent the Guide: \u201cWe have noticed that for most of the guests who visit Uganda, the shoebill must be on their bucket list, which not there before.\u201d<\/p>\n

The guide added: \u201cMost tourists used to come for gorillas only, and now the shoebill is competing.\u201d<\/p>\n