In Kenya‚ farmers are giving up on poultry due to attacks from Indian house crows. These birds‚ first brought to East Africa over 130 years ago have grown to a population of nearly a million causing big problems for local wildlife.
Danson Safari‚ a Kenyan farmer had to stop raising chickens after losing hundreds to these aggressive birds. The growing threat has pushed Kenyan officials and conservation groups to use a chemical called starlicide to get rid of the crows while trying not to harm other birds.
The crows have really cut down the numbers of birds native to Kenya. Kirao Lennox‚ a research scientist at A Rocha Kenya‚ said: “They are now predating on our indigenous species targeting nests eggs‚ chicks and even adult birds. Without natural predators to keep their numbers in check‚ they are overwhelming the ecosystem leading to the decline of native species“
Since they started using it starlicide has killed about 200 crows in a month in the coastal town of Watamu. Eric Kinoti‚ a crow control officer at A Rocha Kenya‚ said the crows have also been seen along the road connecting Mombasa to Nairobi. Heʼs worried the crows could wipe out biodiversity within Kenyas capital city especially in Nairobi National Park‚ home to hundreds of bird species.
“We dont want them to get to Nairobi‚“ he said. “When they enter into that ecosystem they are going to totally eliminate the other bird species“
The situation is urgent — these invasive crows (introduced way back in 1891) are now threatening Kenyas rich biodiversity. Conservation efforts are ongoing but the battle to protect native species from these aggressive invaders is far from over