The kori bustard is generally a somewhat scarce bird. Appendix II of CITES and the "2000 Eskom Red Data Book for Birds" lists the status of the nominate race as Vulnerable, estimating that in the next three generations, it is expected to decline by 10% in South Africa. In protected areas, they can be locally common. Viable populations exist in unprotected areas as well (e.g. Ethiopia and Sudan, and in Tanzania around Lake Natron and in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro) but in these areas, the birds are hunted. They have been much reduced by hunting, having been traditionally snared in "Acacia" gum baits and traps. Although no longer classified as game birds, they are still sometimes eaten. In Namibia, they are indicated as game as they are called the “Christmas turkey” and in South Africa, the “Kalahari Kentucky". Hunting of bustards is difficult to manage.