Experts in Tanzania call for a ban in trading of birds to save species from going extinct
Tanzania’s bird experts have called for a ban on the increased illegal killing, taking and trading of wild birds, since some of the bird species are facing extinction reports Xinhua.
“The motives behind these illicit activities are various and the toll that they are taking is incredible with millions of birds being killed each year,” said Dr. Flora Magige, Head of Zoology Department in University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and a senior lecturer during a symposium organized by the Department of Zoology of UDSM while commemorating the World Migratory Bird Day on the 10th of May.
Lucrative market in Europe for birds bought from Tanzania has increased the illegal trade to nourish in Tanzania. Tanzania’s law allows for the import and exports of birds to and from anywhere in the world is threatening the extinction of many bird species.
Tanzania had over 1,148 types of birds but only 24 species can be found in the East African nation now according to Dr.Jason John a senior lecturer at UDSM.
“But when it comes to birds, no specie is safe from illegal trade.” Said Dr. John
According to Dr. John countries are taking advantage of counties that are not signatories to treaties that control or ban trading of birds, to illegally trade or buy various species and make those countries as routes for passing birds that were illegally obtained. Adding that all African birds especially parrots were threatened by the illegal trade where many birds were seriously affected remaining with a small population and narrow distribution.
Poor habitats which were not conducive to birds, due to cutting down or burning of forests and trees, predation, hunting and harvesting of migratory birds, and killing migratory birds for sale or domestic consumption have impacted the migrating birds population negatively.
“But poisoning has also greatly affected migratory birds especially water birds. Poisons that are applied on crops for agricultural activities and other pesticides have killed a lot of birds,” said Dr. Chacha Werema reports Xinhua
