Stop Wildlife Poisoning

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 28 2008 | By: ngaio

Hi all,

First of all, Martin thank you SO much for all your posts, you’ve put so much time into them and they are really informative. I have been horrified to read about the ongoing indiscriminate use of Furadan, it’s a wonder we have any wildlife left in Kenya at all!

I have been very remiss about posting blogs, but I only have a few more weeks in lab now and then I’ll be able to finish and submit my thesis and do other things! I’ve been developing forensic methodology to detect diclofenac in the hair of livestock animals and the feathers of vultures. You have all undoubtedly heard about the Asian Vulture Crisis but if not please have a look at: http://www.vulturerescue.org/.

Why look for diclofenac in hair and feathers? Well, for one thing, they are very resistant to environmental degradation, much more so than tissues like kidney or liver, which are usually analysed for residues. Drugs of abuse have been detected in human hair and lots of environmental contaminants have been detected in feathers, so it’s just a matter of seeing whether the principles of incorporation and detection apply for diclofenac and other drugs in the same category.

Now I say ‘just’ a matter, but I’m a wildlife biologist by training and not a chemist, and this is a very technical project. Since I have started this work there have been many times when I felt completely overwhelmed by the chemistry and thought I must be the wrong person to be doing this research. I had to learn how to use a GC-MS (which stands for gas chromatography mass spectrometry).  Very rarely have our instruments worked the way they should, if at all. Often they have required weeks of maintenance. And all the time I am receiving messages from colleagues that residues of diclofenac are still being found in carcasses in India, that diclofenac was registered for veterinary use in some parts of Africa, and here I am tinkering away trying to get my equipment to work and give me the results I need to finish so that I can maybe, perhaps make a contribution to help the vultures and other endangered or threatened wildlife in some small way. That was my intent, anyways.

I have been fortunate enough to live and work in some really beautiful wild places and I feel happiest outside doing field work. I used to study little Eastern Screech-owls, surely one of THE most uncooperative birds ever, and some of my fondest memories are of sitting in the bed of my truck in the dead of night in the middle of an apple orchard listening to families calling to one another. So having spent three years of my life doing lab-based work has been torturous in many ways. I have felt a restlessness  I didn’t know I possessed, a sense of being trapped, cooped up with no possibility of escape. I desperately miss being in the field, although one of the most obvious drawbacks there is coming across the carcasses of wildlife species.

But I’ve gained some very valuable insight since I started this work, insight that’s helped me understand and appreciate the complexities of technical analysis, much more than when I was collecting samples and handing them over for someone else to analyse. We are conditioned, especially in North America I think, to view forensic analysis, whether it is for investigations of incidents against people or wildlife, with awe.  Television programmes give us the idea that you pick up a sample from a crime scene or from the field then put it in a baggie and hand it to a technician who pops it into a machine that tells you what nasties are in it and what they’re used for, essentially revealing to you how they got there in the first place. In fact what actually happens is that you don’t often know what you’re looking for when presented with a sample, and need to keep an open mind. The residues may have been in the sample to begin with, but it’s been outside for so long that the sample itself has degraded and is no longer useable.  It can take a few days to prepare a sample for analysis, and when you run it you then have to tease out all the different compounds that show up. If the cause of death is not something routinely screened for, or a compound that is causing mortality for the first time, or its structure doesn’t quite match up with the instrument’s reference library, you may miss it altogether.

Even at the best of times instruments like GC-MS or HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) which are high precision and absolutely ESSENTIAL for positive identification of residues of pesticides or harmful compounds in wildlife samples require a lot of tender loving care.  They are fiddly, so you open them up to fix one problem and you unwittingly cause a whole slew of secondary problems. Labour and parts can be very expensive too. But the running and maintenance costs are worth it because these instruments are the best tools we have to positively identify the presence of residues in wildlife samples. The awe is warranted in this sense, it is amazing to me that someone had the wherewithal to put the chemistry and physics and mechanics together, these instruments are fantastic!  And we take them so much for granted here in the UK, and in North America. They are just part of the background in many of our university laboratories. But in Africa, the reality is that very few university, government or industry laboratories have them.  So how do we monitor for presence of contaminants in wildlife species, and how do we gather reliable scientific evidence to document the damage that compounds like carbofuran are having?

I just wanted to give some perspective of the logistics involved in documenting evidence of wildlife mortality and identifying the cause, whether it’s exposure to diclofenac or carbofuran, or strychnine.  It’s a mammoth task in itself, let alone given limited resources. And I wanted to say that even though I’ve missed being in the field I’m really glad I took on this project because of what it’s enabled me to learn. Not everyone gets to take apart expensive pieces of equipment like I do (and I confess it it gives me a certain devilish satisfaction to do so when the instrument is not behaving itself!), nor do they get to experience the process of wildlife forensics from the field to the analysis. And do I ever admire the hard work and dedication of the people working diligently in the field and in laboratories throughout Africa.

These instruments aren’t used to full advantage if the samples aren’t received in good condition, or the screening method is restricted in the number and types of compounds that can be detected, or the resources aren’t available to ensure they are kept in proper working order.  A lot of good work is being done to remedy this though, as you will know from reading Martin’s blogs and the other blogs on this website. The monitoring efforts and instruments are only as good as the people running them, and we are blessed with some GREAT people!

When I finish this work I’m going to look for funding to help with provision of laboratory instruments and technical support  as well as running costs, starting in Kenya. I’m collaborating with a UK-based charity called the Foundation for Analytical Science & Technology in Africa who provide laboratory instruments and ongoing technical support to university laboratories in Africa.

Now, manufacturers such as FMC have a lot more resources at their disposal to mount a case in their favour, so contributions from all of you are always very welcome, and very much appreciated. We need all the help we can get! Come to think of it, perhaps FMC would care to help as well, as a show of good will, to ‘offset’ the fact that they continue to manufacture and sell Furadan despite being aware that it is widely used to poison wildlife species in Kenya and elsewhere. Ah, but they must realize that the lack of resources in this area works all too well in their favour, for the moment…

2 responses so far

Category: Pesticides, carbofuran | Date: Jul 25 2008 | By: Martin Odino

Instead of banning carbofuran in agriculture, the EPA  has banned residues on food. I hope we can use this to make a change in Kenya! Check out this press release

EPA Issues Landmark Decision to Prohibit Deadly Pesticide Carbofuran Residues on Food

Decision Will Improve Human Safety and End Poisonings of Birds

(Washington, D.C. – July 24, 2008) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed decision that residues of carbofuran, a toxic pesticide that is used on a variety of crops, will no longer be allowed on food.  This effectively means that carbofuran will have to be removed from the U.S. market, benefiting consumers and farm workers, as well as birds, which are frequently poisoned by the deadly chemical.

“This is a huge victory for the environment. EPA is to be congratulated for taking such decisive action to eliminate the dangers posed by carbofuran,” said Dr. Michael Fry, American Bird Conservancy’s Director of Conservation Advocacy. “This decision is based on overwhelming scientific evidence and sends a clear signal to manufacturers that it doesn’t pay to fight the cancellation of products proven to be harmful.”

The move by EPA is the latest in a long battle to halt all uses of carbofuran (sold under the trade name Furadan). In August of 2006, EPA announced its intention to cancel carbofuran registration due to hazards to birds, other wildlife, and people. However, carbofuran manufacturer FMC Corporation is pursuing a court battle so that it can keep selling the pesticide. This is the first time in twenty years that a pesticide manufacturer has fought cancellation of a registered pesticide.

EPA also announced that following the revocation of food tolerances, it will continue to pursue cancellation of the product. By revoking all food tolerances, it has the effect of speeding its removal from the market. In addition, the decision applies to imported food, which will help eliminate the use of carbofuran in countries that export rice, coffee and bananas to the United States. The decision will go into effect following a public comment period and the issuance of a final notice by the agency.

“EPA’s revocation of tolerances for residues of this toxic pesticide is urgently needed to protect America’s public health, and it will have enormous benefits for America’s wildlife and birds as well,” said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife.

Carbofuran is one of the most deadly pesticides to birds left on the market. It is responsible for the deaths of millions of wild birds since its introduction in 1967, including Bald and Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and migratory songbirds. In its 2005 ecological risk assessment on carbofuran, EPA stated that all legal uses of the pesticide were likely to kill wild birds. If a flock of mallards were to feed in a carbofuran treated alfalfa field, EPA predicted that 92% of the birds in the flock would quickly die. EPA analysis has also confirmed that carbofuran is a threat to human health through contaminated food, drinking water, and occupational exposure.

In 2007, the deliberate misapplication of carbofuran by a Colorado farmer killed over 2,200 migratory birds, including Mourning Doves, Horned Larks, Western Meadowlarks, Red-Winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles. The farmer pleaded guilty in federal court for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Other incidents of bird poisonings by carbofuran are documented in the Avian Incident Monitoring System (www.abcbirds.org/aims) operated by American Bird Conservancy in cooperation with the EPA and state and federal wildlife agencies. In addition to killing birds when used legally, carbofuran is often illegally used in poison baits intended to kill wildlife in agricultural areas and grazing lands. This abuse has resulted in the deaths of raptors including Bald and Golden Eagles.

American Bird Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife and other conservation and worker protection organizations campaigned for many years to have carbofuran removed from the market. The groups heralded EPA’s decision to cancel registration of the chemical in February 2008 as a clear victory for the environment. Groups supporting the cancellation include: American Bird Conservancy, Alaska Bird Observatory, Archbold Biological Station, Beyond Pesticides, Bird Conservation Network, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Endangered Habitats League, Friends of Dyke Marsh, Hampshire Bird Club, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter, National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Pesticide Action Network North America, Riveredge Bird Club, Seattle Audubon Society, Taku Conservation Society, Tennessee Ornithological Society, The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, The Institute for Bird Populations, Virginia Society of Ornithology, Washington Toxics Coalition, Wildlife Center of Virginia, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, World Wildlife Fund, Xerces Society, Maryland Ornithological Society.

More details about EPA’s announcement are available at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/carbofuran/carbofuran_noic.htm.

#30#

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is the only organization that works solely to conserve native wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC acts to safeguard the rarest bird species, restore habitats, and reduce threats, while building capacity in the conservation movement. ABC is the voice for birds, ensuring that they are adequately protected; that sufficient funding is available for bird conservation; and that land is protected and properly managed to maintain viable habitat. ABC is a 501(c)(3) membership organization that is consistently awarded a top, four-star rating by the independent group, Charity Navigator.

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org.

5 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 24 2008 | By: Martin Odino

HI. I am so sorry for being ‘off’. I hooked a hike. I am in Sopa Lodge in Samburu National Reserve for the night as I type. See the photo below. Sorry for the poor quality: Power was running low and the photo was taken in the night at around 22.15hrs. yet the lighting conditions of my simple room were not the best. The place has neither cell phone nor internet connection but I will post this out tomorrow once I am somewhere there is accessibility to network within the park.

A friend invited me on a bird survey/guiding tour. I thought it worthwhile to accompany him because I noticed his circuit included places where wildlife poisoning is known to occur. While the circuit begins from Nairobi, it covers areas of Thika town outskirts, Mwea, Samburu, Baringo, Kakamega, Kisumu Masai Mara and then back to Nairobi. I have been to some of these places and I thought it wise to get to observe for poisoning and interview one or two people.

Having come through Mwea Rice Scheme, I was able to talk to two people. The first directed me to a second party who i made a ‘false’ appointment with to get poisoned ducks from early next month. We even exchanged contacts and he is eagerly waiting for the time to reach and I will be his guest. He told me he does not poison birds himself but there are specialists who poison the birds using Furadan and when the time came he would link me up with them. It is a pity that poisoning is shielded so that it goes on behind the scenes. This makes detection very hard and therefore this situation may run out of hand if it does not receive immediate attention. Here I was standing right in the face of poisoning while all seemed so well when in fact it is otherwise. In addition he told me the National Irrigation Board carries out aerial sprays against vermin birds when the crop is maturing and almost ready for harvest. Unfortunately, their exercise is indiscriminate. He told me that this year, the exercise will be on about November. The young man further pointed out that these poisonings are executed mostly at roosting sites and birds die en masse. He said that nobody collects the birds, more so smaller species. Large species collected, mostly ducks are taken for consumption. He mentioned three species that he knew were falling victim of aerial sprays: Egrets, Herons and Ducks. At the time I joined my friend and he expressed disappointment that he had not been able to locate one species known to occur here amongst its other known few, restricted ranges. Honestly I could not help wondering quietly if the poisonings were not contributing to the scarcity of the bird species(Yellow-crowned Bishop).

More will be on your way as we get to the sites

Here’s me posting, after I got to Safaricom network (at Viewpoint, in Samburu Game Reserve) area 30hrs later.

Tags: furadan, Mwea, poisoning

One response so far

Category: Organophosphates, Pesticides | Date: Jul 18 2008 | By: Martin Odino

Hi. I recently got the opportunity to get an introductory overview of the situation of pesticides in Kenya using the case example of Nairobi City. Communicating to a specialist and key figure at Consumer Watch Kenya, a leading organization in Kenya that fights for better quality and safety of products and services for Kenyan consumers, I got to confirm our fear as conservationists that all is amiss as far as pesticide use, distribution and legislation is concerned. The specialist gave a sorry impression, based on the findings of their organization and agreed with me that indeed it was time, to use her words, ‘we joined dots(medicine, wildlife, agriculture, and others)’ to confront and deal with the situation.

Basically, the scenario witnessed is unauthorized pesticides, including those banned or severely restricted in developed countries being found in Kenya. In addition, these together with others are found to occur at high levels that deem them toxic to man. This information is in a report by Kenya Organic Agricultural Network and can be found on Consumer Watch Kenya’s website at www.consumerwatchkenya.org .Disturbing issues from the report include:

• There are only 16 banned/restricted pesticides in Kenya currently, despite the fact that Kenya is a signatory to major conventions and protocols that deal with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) e.g. Rotterdam Convention, Montreal Protocol, Stockholm Convention among others.

• Of the 85,000 synthetic chemicals available worldwide, many are carcinogenic and damage the brain, the nervous and reproductive system. Many of these may leave residues in or on crops and on environment with potential exposure to human beings (and if I may add to wildlife and therefore the entire biodiversity is at risk).

• Following random selection of purchase sites for vegetables in Nairobi city, the test results on the purchased vegetables were shocking in 10 out of the 15 pesticides detected, exhibiting higher levels than those reflected by EU as healthy for the consumption. These include 2 banned organophosphates (Parathion and methyl parathion).

It follows without doubt that man and animal as well as environment at large face heavy toxicity confrontation from pesticides. It is only cooperative responsibility that can sort us out of this mess.

Tags: conservationists, Consumer Watch Kenya, persistent organic pollutants, pesticide

One response so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 18 2008 | By: Martin Odino

Hi. Sorry for a replica post. This however is meant to clarify that we do not restrict our request for digital cameras to just monetary donations but actual cameras are equally accepted. we know that some people have old digital cameras that they don’t use any more that we could actually make good use of in the field.

The most basic of cameras is all we need.

It is also paramount that we safeguard and ensure your material donations reach us safely in order for us to be able to use them for the application that we requested you to donate them for. In this case,please do not post any donations by the provided physical post (In my comment-Martin:WildifeDirect in need of digital cameras) since this is risky especially for costly items. It is actually possible for the material donations-camera donation(s) in this case -to be delivered to Washington DC then Paula can arrange for them to be delivered to our offices in Nairobi, Kenya.

If you can make an in-kind donation of an actual digital camera, Please email us on info@wildlifedirect.org if you want to send us one, and we’ll tell you where to send the cameras. We really appreciate your support.

Tags: Wildlife Direct

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 17 2008 | By: Martin Odino

Hi. While our Stop Wildlife Poisoning Campaign is on-going, we like to appeal for your support towards purchasing 2 digital cameras to be used by the Stop Wildlife Poisoning team. A piece of this costs around $500 in Kenya. While the team is constituted of 14 members, not all have digital cameras especially by virtue of the team being constituted of some members who by virtue of their profession do not have this vital piece of equipment. Further, one of the members lost his digital camera when it fell off a cliff while on a survey related to the anti-poisoning campaign. We want to provide you with photos of our sighted poisoning incidences and other poisoning-related incidences, which will in addition add authenticity and boost the validity of our claims against poisoning and especially as concerns the ban on carbofuran. Kindly support us.

Tags: carbofuran, Stop Wildlife Poisoning Cammpaign, Wildlife Direct

4 responses so far

Category: carbofuran | Date: Jul 17 2008 | By: Martin Odino

Hi. It is a bright thursday 17/07/2008 afternoon unlike the many gloomy, cloudy afternoons that have been since last month. I am perched on my seat looking across a broad window overlooking one of Nairobi’s upper middle class surburbs, otherwise called Hurlingham. As I contemplate where to begin, a Black Kite flies by in my view, twisting and turning its tail, a diagnostic manouvre of the fork-tailed raptor. I then remember the nesting Peregrine Falcon I saw this morning on a high neighbouring building just astride from where Willife Direct’s offices are situated. It then hits me that these guys are safe in town! A Marabou Stork is gliding past as I type.

Alas! the Marabou Storks only two decades ago were birds of the wild. They roamed and scavenged of the carcases in the savannah expanse. Well they still do but most of them have now moved into town. If you happen to be in Nairobi City, and especially as you get into town from our local major airport, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will pass by a section of town called Nyayo Stadium(known from the respective stadium) and witness a spectacle of big nests on Acacia trees. This is the largest nesting site of the urbanized storks in Nairobi. The birds have muted excreta on the tarmac, looking smudged after zooming automobiles splash the fresh, pasty substance. The walls of the surrounding buildings are also stained with white cascading trails of the same. Though not entirely free from human persecution, especially from the street urchins who may pick up the weakend old or sick individuals and subject them to teasing and physical torture, the birds are generally comfortable and safe at the judgement of any onlooker. Still, the people around Nyayo stadium seem to have learnt to tolerate the birds and will hardly notice them. My whole point is that the giant birds are safer compared to what is befalling their scavenging mates-the vultures-in the wild.

The Marabou Storks are scavengers and will be seen scavenging alongside vultures and hyenas. Of all the local cases reported of vultures poisoned by carbofuran, I cannot pin-point one that documented Marabou Storks as well, yet these scavenge together in the wild. But I think their ‘humility’ has spared them from the ill fate of this calamity. The Marabous will post sentry as the stronger eagles, vultures and hyenas tussle over the meal of carcass. May be by the time they get the morsel of the whole the carbofuran-laced layer of the carcass is already cleared off by the stronger birds and hyenas. Well, may be this tough competition is one of the factors that led to the coming into town by these giant storks. Nonetheless, I feel though an ambitious move, partly the birrds were saved from the ongoing massacre of their colleagues-vultures-by the killer carbofuran.

Many rate this stork as the ugliest scene of the birds, but the bird has a reputation for being a cleaner of the environment. It will eat decomposing carcasses and most disposables that would be unpalatable even to wild dogs. But their settlement in town does not mean they have moved to absolute safety.Since the birds will be seen to forage in large numbers at dumping sites, at sewage pond ‘wetlands’ and any other filthy sites, still there is menace that the birds could get poisoned by industrial poisons or toxins if these are discharged at their foraging sites. For now, they are safer from carbofuran poisoning than they would be if they were all out in the savannah.

Tags: Black Kite, carbofuran, eagle, hyena, Marabou Stork, Peregrine Falcon, Wildlife Direct

2 responses so far

Category: Pesticides, carbofuran | Date: Jul 17 2008 | By: Martin Odino

While Endosulfan is hitting headlines with majority public hatred outcry in Philippines, Carbofuran is hitting headlines with informed minority hatred outcry- those who have seen and know the devastating implications not just to wildlife but also to humans.

But Endosulfan’s effects are witnessed in the exceptionally high prevalence of birth defects among children in Asia. The region adjoining the Plantation Corporation’s cashew plantations in Kerala’s Kasaragod district highly suspected to be linked to the Endosulfan pesticide. May be we are waiting for the same for Carbofuran (Furadan). Furadan’s direct effects to humans are only inferred or better stated, are latent amongst its victims. This is primarily because the poisoning goes on at mild levels in humans hardly attaining the threshold lethal limits to cause immediate death. This is mostly through eating poisoned wildlife and known in this case is the eating of poisoned birds. The birds are eviscerated immediately, but even this is done in a haphazard way and cannot be said to be absolutely free of direct contamination from the bait that killed the bird. These subjects however continue taking the chemical over time and cumulatively. Therefore, there must be effects, may be even deaths. Further, these contamination cases are not documented and there is therefore no data to support this. Contrary to the undetectable case in humans, the effects are obvious in the animals that we so crudely poison with the Carbofuran-carnivores, birds, herbivores etc.

Either way, the link between Endosulfan and carbofuran is that both are pesticides. In addition, both are being hailed deadly toxins in our environment. Well, another striking similarity is that both are wreaking havoc in their areas of use but those with the powers to oust them in these areas are reluctant, not that the evidence is lacking but most likely the chemical product boosts the agricultural productivity of an area/region/country but yet again monetary income is grande and some of the investors may be the ones having to stand and effect the ousting of the chemical, a challenging and self-crucifying move. But what is better than saving the entire biodiversity and man? Well in the end such a move remains the noble one.

The simple, uninformed “wildlife poisoners” cling on to Carbofuran because it is an ultimate killer, the same reason for which they should abhor it. But even they have identified it as a way to improve their status on richness scale: the carnivore killer’s dream is to own a larger herd; the bird hunter wants his supply to be larger. To both, Carbofuran will do the magic. It is all in the quest for affluence.

It is disturbing to realize that most effective chemical poisons bear a curse which is that they are NOT POTENTIALLY POISONOUS (AS SAID OF ALL CHEMICAL PESTICIDES), BUT ARE JUST POISONS! I wish it were otherwise.

Tags: bird, carbofuran, Carnivore, Endosulfan, furadan, herbivore, poison, Wildlife

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 15 2008 | By: Martin Odino

It all happens in such fields and waterways that supply water to the Bunyala Rice Scheme.

At this point I am confused which is wrong: poisoning fish or eating poisoned fish? No. I mean which is MORE wrong? For sure both are wrong. I think in short ‘we are poisoning us!’-Human beings and other wildlife!

I had a telephone conversation with my informant in Busia , Kenya last evening who told me everything is going on normally. By this ,he meant birds are being baited as usual. He also went on to say fish poisoning is also on. Well, with the paddy in the fields and water gushing in through the waterways (such as the one shown above) from the River Nzoia, (one of our renowned local rivers) when the watergates are opened, fish also come along. When the watergates are closed, the water stagnates. The chemical is then put in the water and in a matter of a few minutes, fish are seen to float! The species victims of this method include Tilapia species , cat fish and some species of eel. The fishermen then retrieve them from the shallow waterways and are taken for sale. The chemical’s name is nothing close to what we can figure out at the moment.Just like carbofuran is known by the locals in the area as ‘indubuha’ this one is known as ‘gumofwe’. Honestly I do not know what that is and even the spelling may be wrong because I have just reconstructed it based on the way that he pronounced it. With the young man being semi-illiterate, that is the best he could do to get me the name of the chemical. He also said this is also a very toxic substance. In addition, he said some people bathe in the water.I should get down there shortly to get the real name of the chemical and witness the scenario.

It was birds, then now fish. Surely, if this chemical is also toxic to humans, then we are dealing with persons whose bodies are toxic material bags. As if not enough, some of them are going on to ensure the chemical is not only on the inside of their bodies, but also on the outside by bathing in the water with the chemical that kills fish.

Tags: Bunyala Rice Scheme, Busia, Catfish, Eel, poison, Tilapia, toxic

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 11 2008 | By: Martin Odino

Hi. I am trying to pick out every possible poisoning area in Kenya without spending a lot of time figuring out which of the many are likely. Going to each is obviously absurd. There is great urgency to quickly expose and get to work-create awareness and monitor on all areas where wildlife poisoning is going on. I am therefore devising a formula to help Wildlife Defect’s Stop Wildlife Poisoning Task Force save on time and get quickly to a likely poisoning site. Based on this criterion, I will come up with a map showing exhaustively all the possible local wildlife poisoning hotspots.

For the past few months (hardly 1 year) I have been out begging people to tell me if they are poisoning (biased to carbofuran) animals in their areas. A tough thing for any human being to do; confessing to a wrong doing. It makes this job ridiculous for those of us in it. Nonetheless, some results have been forthcoming. In the process, I have been able to establish some relationships in factors which upon interacting, then most likely there is wildlife poisoning in the area. The sites where I visited are Kisii, Nairobi, Machakos, Naivasha, Kajiado, Isiolo, Maralal and Busia. In all these sites, poisoning was reported, though of various degrees. These were factors pointing to poisoning in an area:

1. Farming activities (F) – Preferably this should be mixed farming. This was the case in all the sites.

2. Focus of carbofuran use (FC)-Usually an area of large scale commercial crop farming will lead to a centralized grande supply of the pesticide chemical. This was observed in Naivasha and Busia; commercial flower farming and commercial rice growing respectively.

3. Conflict or ‘Misplaced’ Crisis [fatal] (C) - Misplaced implies unusual in this case. Conflict is almost entirely only human-wildlife conflict. Crisis may be hunger (resulting from persistent crop failure due to poor farming methods or failure of rainfall). Vermin infestation may also be classified as crisis with reported victims being domestic carnivores turned rogue (in Kisii where a dog had rabies and Kajiado where a veterinarian poisoned rabied dogs), rodents (‘rat kill’ around Nairobi-in Kikuyu-and controlling squirrel’s in planting fields in Machakos) and unusual vermin such as cases of dogs breaking and feeding on soft maize crop; Warthogs feeding on crops and making burrows in planted fields. I do not include insect pests as misplaced crisis because this is the ONLY case that accords proper use of the chemical.

4. Remoteness (R)-If a site is away from a major carbofuran distributing town or focus of carbofuran use (FC), it is very likely that the pesticide is little known e.g. in Isiolo and Maralal.

The formular is therefore:

F+FC+C-R = Poisoning in the area

Or simplified,

F+C=Poisoning in the area

FC+C =Poisoning in the area

The following quiz will just help me test the accurateness of my formulae above. Please attempt it: Each equation has an answer from one of these: poisoning, no poisoning or impossible.

NB: If a factor does not appear in the equation, it means the factor is not experienced.

F+R=

FC+R=

C+FC+F=

Tags: , carbofuran, poisoning, Stop Wildlife Poisoning Task Force, Wildlife Direct

2 responses so far