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Lion poisoning in Tanzania

Category: Pesticides, carbofuran, lions | Date: Sep 15 2009 | By: paula

We just received this from someone who wants to remain anonymous

I checked out Furadan sales in the town of Arusha. We found it in the first store we went to. And, lots of it, available in 200 gm, 500 gm and 1 kilo amounts. We asked what it was used for and the first response was for crops. Probing a little, we then asked why would we see it out in livestock areas where we work. Response, without hesitation, was it is used to poison lions and hyenas and other predators. A number of other stores were checked and they all said that they carried Furadan, were currently out of stock, but would have more on Monday. So, it is a hot item and still being restocked.

We purchased 200 gm for $1.30 and have scanned and attached the label here. Interesting to note it was manufactured November 2008. Mentions the distributor in Kenya as well. My feeling is that it is still readily available and very popular amongst smaller, local communities here in Tanzania.

I can tell you that we have lost at least 10 lions in the last 6 months to poisoning in the Tarangire ecosystem. A colleague of mine obtained a poison sample, but it was not large enough for adequate testing.

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4 Responses to “Lion poisoning in Tanzania”

sauwah, on 15 Sep 2009

it is disgusting but predictable since such poison still can be easily purchased in kenya where such thing is banned. so where and how such banned item is available? from neighboring countries like tanzania. is the government and both governments doing any thing productive on this subject matter? no! and what about the company that manufactures? why can’t the company make its product smelly and taste bad for any predators or animals? and where is the pressure to make the company to do so?

ana zinger, on 15 Sep 2009

No more lions, no more tourist dollars for tanzania. Wake up people!

Anna M, on 16 Sep 2009

Tragic and what are the manufactures doing to try and stop this ! In this rate Tanzania will have to survive on Mount Kilimanjaro alone for overseas visitors and dollar income ! Thank you for keeping up your investigation work in and around the area..

FMC’s Furadan Supply Halt in May 2008! | Stop Wildlife Poisoning, on 22 Sep 2009

[…] the blog post Lion Poisoning in Tanzania just challenges the reassuring words above. The post contents are words from our informant and […]

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