Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 3.9
Bird meat price list per individual unit (in KSh and USD
a
)
Phase I of interviews/
questionnaires
Phase II of interviews/
questionnaires
Raw
KSh/USD
Dried/Roasted
KSh/USD
Raw
KSh/USD
Dried/Roasted
KSh/USD
Species/family
African openbill
50/0.60
70/0.87
80/0.99
100/1.2
Marabou stork
400/4.97
400/4.97
Ibises and egrets
40/0.50
40/0.50
Pigeons and doves
20/0.25
40/0.50
40/0.50
50/0.60
Sandpipers
10/0.1
20/0.25
Widowbirds/
weavers/pipits
5/0
10/0.1
1 USD = ca 80 KsH
a
or hanging the carcasses over glowing fi rewood embers before cooking 'detoxifi ed' the fl esh/car-
casses. Nonetheless, they acknowledged that the pesticide being used, Furadan, was deadly toxic.
In a sidenote, a woman in Bunyala was reported to have used Furadan to poison her husband and
her children for her husband's infi delity. In fact, Kenyan women are rarely allowed to purchase
pesticides from an agrovet's shop because of the fear that they will use it to poison a husband who
has been unfaithful.
The consumers interviewed also stated that they ate many of the species shown in Table 3.9.
However, the African openbill and the doves/pigeons were clearly favoured, having been named
by 219 of the 242 consumers (i.e., 90%). It is also worth noting that while all 62 respondents in
the fi rst interview phase freely answered the question regarding which birds they consumed, 23
out of the 180 respondents (i.e., 13%) would not respond in the second phase. The consumers
reported that they had no particular supplier but could obtain wild bird meat by placing an order
with any of the poachers to supply them. The prices quoted by consumers matched that shown
in Table 3.9.
3.3.3.2 Results of Thin Layer Chromatography Analysis
Presence of a carbamate (i.e., carbofuran) was detected in the sample labeled 'BAIT' which
was recovered from one of the jars used by a poacher to prepare his bait. The same results were
consistent in the 'GUT' samples 1, 2, 3 and 7. No other chemically toxic substances were detected
in the 'GUT' samples.
3.3.3.3 Impact of education and awareness on Furadan poisoning
Education was used as a tool, to empower locals in the study area and change their perspectives
about poisoning and eating intoxicated birds. Two local assistants were trained for this purpose.
Although the study has now been completed, these individuals remain involved in monitoring poi-
soning activities and recruiting others to join the local bird watching team, which also advocates
against bird poisoning (see Figure 3.11).
Informal and opportunistic sessions were conducted with both poachers and consumers, to gener-
ate awareness about the risk that Furadan and other compounds may pose to human health. However,
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