Stop Wildlife Poisoning

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Apr 28 2008 | By: Martin

JOPHIE CLARK

Jophie Clark moved to Kenya 4 years ago from the UK. She previously worked for conservation organisations in the UK and most recently was the Executive Director of the Colobus Trust, a primate conservation and rescue centre in Diani on the south coast of Kenya. She is currently completing an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation with the University of London (SOAC) and is researching her dissertation, which focusses on the issue of deliberate poisoning of predators using Furadan. The objectives of the research are:
· To investigate the extent to which deliberate poisoning of large predators and scavengers using Carbofuran and other chemicals occurs within Kenya, and in particular within areas encompassed by the Northern Rangelands Trust (northern Kenya).
· To propose recommendations for appropriate mitigation measures to minimise such incidents amongst communities supported by the Northern Rangelands Trust, and potentially in other areas of Kenya and East Africa.
Jophie lives within the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy with her husband and two daughters.

SIMON  THOMSETT

Simon Thomsett has been working with raptors in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa for some 3 decades. This work includes captive management and rehabilitation of raptors. He initiated the Peregrine Funds’ raptor conservation programme in East Africa in collaboration with the Ornithology Department National Museums of Kenya in 1991-2007, which required academic student supervision, public education, species restoration and re-introduction programmes.
Poisoning of raptors is well known globally via the “bio-accumulation” route, and while pertinent to African raptors it is by no means as obvious and as shocking as the direct use of poisons to kill wildlife. In his experience the deliberate killing of raptors and wildlife appears to be increasing and may herald the regional extinction of some species.

NGAIO RICHARDS

Ngaio is currently finishing a PhD in the UK in wildlife forensics to detect veterinary drugs such as diclofenac in vulture and livestock carcass parts. She is deeply troubled by the ongoing occurrence of wildlife poisonings in Africa and also very concerned about the risks for the people using these compounds for their livelihoods. Ngaio would like to use the poison blog to discuss the development of a concerted action plan to respond to (and prevent) incidences of carbofuran poisoning, one that encompasses the reduction of human-wildlife conflict and promotes alternative means of addressing perceived cases of conflict. She also intends to post key reports and papers on carbofuran (including repercussions to human health) and give people the chance to contribute any materials they feel are relevant.

CLAUDIA HODKINSON 

Share This