Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The questionnaires and interviews revealed that Furadan was the pesticide of choice and may still
be in use at the study site. Toxicological assessments of baits and tissues from dead birds confi rmed
the presence of a carbamate. All of the poachers and consumers interviewed knew about (and sup-
ported) the practice of bird poisoning. Between 15 and 30% of the consumers stated that they pre-
ferred wild-caught bird meat to other sources of meat, claiming that it is tastier and more nutritious.
This motive to consume birds that have been killed with pesticides is so strong that it overrides any
knowledge of the dangers of potential secondary poisoning. The market for poached meat is large
and has thus far been responsible for creating the demand that drives the poaching.
We documented a general lack of awareness/concern regarding risks of human pesticide poisoning
from the practice of poaching and from consuming fl esh of intoxicated birds. The people of Bunyala
(poachers and consumers) hang and roast poisoned bird carcasses prior to consumption. As such, they
feel the fl esh of poisoned birds is safe to eat and claim to feel no ill effects. However, a poacher's wife
(who claimed she ate poached bird meat every day) died early in 2010 from unknown causes, and we
cannot help but wonder whether long-term exposure to pesticide-killed birds played any role. During
our interview, she was nursing knee joint paralysis and was using a walking stick. This caught our
attention because in the Mwea irrigation scheme (in central Kenya), they cook pesticide hunted birds
fresh (rather than roasting or draining fi rst), and many adults complain of knee joint pain.
Bird poisoning in Bunyala is already having a signifi cant impact on local and migratory bird pop-
ulations and may have already wiped out a number of local duck species populations. Bird poisoning
at Bunyala has been going on for three decades at least, and information from locals indicates that
initially wild ducks were mainly targeted. These include the whistling ducks ( Dendrocygna sp ) (J.
Achieno, personal communication). Presently, very few of the ducks remain at the site and on many
surveys none were observed (M. Odino, personal observation). In other irrigation schemes (i.e.,
Ahero and Mwea), where there were also surveys to record the incidence of bird poisoning, duck
species were targeted. We suspect that the poisoning of wattled starlings ( Creatophora cinerea ) in
Bunyala may have reduced the population to very small numbers since large fl ocks of this species,
which were commonly seen with cattle about two decades ago (J. Achieno, personal communica-
tion), are sadly now a thing of the past.
Red-billed oxpeckers ( Buphagus erythrorhynchus) also seem to be declining but this is more
likely because of the intensive acaricide use, many of which should not be used for tick control.
At one time it was common to see oxpeckers hanging from the ears of cows (to remove the ticks)
but farmers chased them away and treated the cows with acaricides instead. Long-tailed nightjars
( Caprimulgus climacurus ) have recently been observed in the Bunyala area, which is very special
because they have never before been reported here. But under the present circumstances and condi-
tions they are likely to be forced out, and where else can they go to be safe? They will be lost before
anyone even knew they were here.
3.3.5 General conclusions
The very high rate of bird poisoning in the Bunyala Rice Irrigation Scheme, using Furadan, is
primarily driven by the demand for wild bird meat by the local population. The practice of pesticide
hunting in this scheme poses a double threat in Kenya and to Kenyans. First, important bird popu-
lations are at risk and populations of at least two species have been altered signifi cantly, perhaps
irreversibly at the present rate of poisoning. Secondly, the regular consumption of bird fl esh that has
been procured using pesticides exposes consumers to potentially lethal concentrations.
Deliberate poisoning of birds is impacting on populations of both migrant and resident bird spe-
cies. The most signifi cantly affected species is the African openbill. During a good proportion of
the study period (i.e., May to November 2009) the availability of Furadan was limited following its
withdrawal from Kenya by the manufacturer FMC. We suspect that the mortality fi gures that we
have reported here are lower than for previous years when the product was widely available.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search