Uncontrolled poisoning kills off the innocent

AS strong indications emerge that the country’s scavenger bird population is decreasing as a result of poison, a booklet has been launched to advise farmers on the safe use of poison.

Often when predators are poisoned, the carcasses are not properly disposed of, resulting in the death of vultures and other birds. Liz Komen of the Namibia Animal Rehabilitation Research and Education Centre says the exact extent of the problem can not be quantified as proper studies have not been carried out.As many as 73 per cent of the recorded deaths of predators in Namibia are caused by poison, according to some estimates.”It is a matter of co-operation and information to farmers,” says Komen.The booklet ‘Predators on Livestock Farms in Namibia’ comes in the wake of a campaign started four years ago to clamp down on the non-target poisoning of wildlife and the illegal use of pesticides to kill predators.Komen believes that the availability of poisons should be better controlled.At present, strychnine is the only legal poison for lethal predator management.But predators are often killed as a result of the off-label use of pesticides and other poisons.Farmers, professional groups and government agencies, however, continue to look at the policy and legislation covering poison for predators.Komen says the aim is to help farmers identify the predators that cause them problems and to consider various means to protect their livestock.The book contains information on the most common mammalian predators of livestock in Namibia.In addition, information on how to increase the protection of livestock through the use of guard dogs, donkeys and herders is provided.Komen also strongly advises that farmers remove predators through the use of appropriate trapping methods.The booklet, which was developed with funding from the Commercial Bank of Namibia’s Go Green Fund, is available from veterinary services within the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development across the country as well as at conservancies.Liz Komen of the Namibia Animal Rehabilitation Research and Education Centre says the exact extent of the problem can not be quantified as proper studies have not been carried out.As many as 73 per cent of the recorded deaths of predators in Namibia are caused by poison, according to some estimates.”It is a matter of co-operation and information to farmers,” says Komen.The booklet ‘Predators on Livestock Farms in Namibia’ comes in the wake of a campaign started four years ago to clamp down on the non-target poisoning of wildlife and the illegal use of pesticides to kill predators.Komen believes that the availability of poisons should be better controlled.At present, strychnine is the only legal poison for lethal predator management.But predators are often killed as a result of the off-label use of pesticides and other poisons.Farmers, professional groups and government agencies, however, continue to look at the policy and legislation covering poison for predators.Komen says the aim is to help farmers identify the predators that cause them problems and to consider various means to protect their livestock.The book contains information on the most common mammalian predators of livestock in Namibia.In addition, information on how to increase the protection of livestock through the use of guard dogs, donkeys and herders is provided.Komen also strongly advises that farmers remove predators through the use of appropriate trapping methods.The booklet, which was developed with funding from the Commercial Bank of Namibia’s Go Green Fund, is available from veterinary services within the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development across the country as well as at conservancies.