Stop Wildlife Poisoning

Category: carbofuran | Date: Apr 28 2009 | By: Martin Odino

The bird species being poisoned in Bunyala Rice scheme depend on the state in which the paddy field is in. This time, the crop has been harvested and threshing is in its closing stages. A lot of grains are scattered about since the process is done manually; beating the stalks with the grains with sticks. It is therefore the turn of seedeaters to be targeted by poachers. Top on this list are the doves which cluster together to forage in the plots.

Two days ago while heading to camp for lunch, a flock of doves flew past across the path. One of these fell down and started scurrying across the road. A few more metres off road and into a rice plot, the bird stopped moving. It was a Red-eyed Dove. Many others in the flock, , I am sure had been poisoned from the direction in which the doves were coming from. Unfortunately, even with the keen eye of our binoculars, we could not trace the poachers.

Well I picked up the dove. His legs were stiff, his wings droopy and a lot of viscous fluid kept flowing from his mouth and nostrils. I gave the bird water from the nearby irrigation water channel. In the next few moments, the bird was throwing up. I hoped this was a good sign. I realized the stiffness in the legs had easened up though the wings remained stiff. I thought it waas wise to carry him home to rest, may be a little non-poisonous grain, and more water before releasing him.

We were gone for much of the afternoon after lunch. Things were sad in the field. Amongst other numerous doves, 18 out of 46 African Open-billed Storks were poisoned using furadan-laced snails and put in a sack.

The sack containing the 18 poisoned African Open-billed Storks with the complacent winner of the prize standing next to it.

The inside of the sack showing the contents

A sample of the storks from the sack

The poacher riding off with his catch

About 5pm, it started drizzling and it was time to trudge back to camp where I also knew I had a dove to care for. I hoped he had regained his strength, though I also feared for the worst, that he might have not survived. Anyway, good news he was in good shape and ready for release. I knew this the moment I got hold of him from his make-shift house because his wing beating was strong and tugging.

The Red-eyed Dove cosy on my palm. Just wondered why he was not taking off!

Time to go!

But even while releasing him, I could not help feeling he was just going to be at the mercies of God, since the poachers and furadan poison are still at large. Anyway, hope you are carefull out there birdie!

As we walked home, not so many doves had been lucky to have been rescued. These were mostly single doves picked up by locals from eating rice grain with furadan after the poachers who would claim rights over the quarry had left the field. We could not do much for these, besides photos of evidence since most were either already dead or maimed. Check out their photos below.

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Tags: Bunyala, furadan, Poacher