Stop Wildlife Poisoning

Category: carbofuran | Date: May 11 2009 | By: Martin Odino

Lately I have focused my writing on the blog on my findings in Bunyala, one of the sites falling under rice schemes and recommended for survey as having a serious problem of biodiversity poisoning using furadan following my earlier surveys in 2007 and 2008 (check report on Furadan in Kenya at the top of the stopwildlifepoisoning blog page).

I refer to biodiversity poisoning here much as I have focused on birds because many other animals, domestic and wild die from eating intoxicated birds or the bait intended for wild birds; chicken, dogs, wild & domestic cats, snakes, monitor lizards and may be even humans. The Bunyala surveys funded by the Rufford Small Grants (RSG) whom I wish to highly acknowledge, are aimed at alerting conservation organization, pesticide regulation bodies, manufacturers (FMC in this case)and the world at large of the devastation that furadan as a poison has brought about and continues to bring to wildlife.

While Bunyala surveys are covered by the RSG funds, I wish to admit that other areas may be even experiencing a more serious problem of furadan poisoning than Bunyala continue to suffer lack of attention and publicity and the poachers continue to enjoy reaping biodiversity where they never sowed. I know of this through well wishers’ communication, mostly via email that there is serious bird poisoning in various places.

Two sites have been predominantly reported on- Mwea Rice Scheme and Ahero Rice Scheme. In the post Battling against intoxication , I mentioned that hypothetically rice schemes maintain large stocks of the pesticide, furadan. More disturbing, in Bunyala Rice Scheme, I gathered that the outgrowers are given the pesticide to use in their seedbeds, most of whom end up getting it to poachers I bet for a fee. Then Mwea and Ahero which are rice schemes are also apparently foci for bird poisoning. Well, my conviction gets stronger that my hypothesis is right. That the rice schemes could still be holding on to stockpiles of furadan and therefore indirectly fueling the heineous bird poisoning activity.

We understand that FMC are on with the buyback through JUANCO, the renowned distributor of furadan. May be ending bird poisoning by furadan stands a chance to succeed if JUANCO gets down to rice and may be even other crop irrigation schemes to buy the pesticide. It is in facilitation for the buy back targetting rice schemes that I think it is time I urgently did a baseline survey at Ahero and Mwea rice schemes. This will be similar to what I do in bunyala as highlighted in the post What I am doing in Bunyala but for a shorter time, a sort of model baseline survey for the two sites. At the same time, I will try to establish the situation of furadan at the irrigation schemes’ premises.

I need USD 385 if this survey should be succesful. Kindly help me fundraise for A MONTH OUT WITH BIRDS GETTING POISONED.I have planned for five days at each of the 2 sites in addition to the regular 14 days survey in Bunyala. Between the surveys, there will be 2 days for travel between the distantly located sites. This means a total of 28 days out in the field, which ideally is the whole of the month of June.

Budget

Ahero Rice Scheme Survey

1. Transport costs - USD 30

2. Subsistence - USD 140

3. Communication - USD 15

Subtotal = USD 185

Mwea Rice Scheme Survey

1. Transport costs -USD 45

2. Subsistence - USD 140

3. Communication - USD 15

Subtotal = USD 200

TOTAL = USD 385

In the days that I have witnessed the poisonings, some of the photos I have taken seem to speak deeper. That:

Those birds that are lucky to be alive in the death fields cannot help looking at us for redemption:

Those intoxicated expect rescucitation from a different version of the being that poisoned them; a man not inclined to poisoning.

While those caught up in the dirty poisoning business cannot help hoping for freedom some day; may be even holding out their hands in prayer!

Captive decoys involved in the dirty poisoning business!Acting as Judases against their will!

While those in death pangs, slowly succumbing to the poison can only wish for a quicker, less painfull death.

We can end such genocidal massive deaths of birds.

Hence this sad operation: A MONTH OUT WITH BIRDS GETTING POISONED, hoped to bring more consideration by relevant organizations to the poor birds through sensitization by exposing the broad extent and intensiveness of furadan poisoning to Kenyan birds. I especially hope that PCPB and AAK will appropriately sanction furadan while FMC and JUANCO hasten the buyback of furadan.

Keep returning to this blog for updates.

Tags: Ahero Rice sheme, biodiversity, BunyalaRice Scheme, FMC, furadan, JUANCO, Mwea Rice Scheme, poisoning, Rufford Small Grant

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