Familiar Chat N e w s l e t t e r o f B i r d L i f e B o t s w a n a Welcome to the Familiar Chat! October 2013 Since the last edition, we have had three bird walks – methinks the mornings "Every year, from one end of were too cold for most sensible birds, but we did see much to interest us. the Mediterranean to the other," wrote Franzen, "hundreds of millions of By being a member of BirdLife and learning more about birds, you are part of songbirds and larger migrants an international community, expressing your commitment to helping are killed for food, profit, conservation efforts all over the world. Birds don’t recognise international sport, and general millions of birds across the borders. amusement." Covering this Balkans and southern Italy Efforts being made to protect our migratory birds in Europe are highlighted, mass killing of birds was like twice a year. EuroNatur trains covering a war, according to local bird-watchers to monitor but recent information indicates we have our own problems in and around Guttenfelder. bird populations and is Botswana, with Grey Louries being found dead and accidental poisoning being Illegal hunting and trapping is developing no-hunting areas. suspected. Hundreds of vultures were deliberately poisoned in the Caprivi rampant in Italy, Cyprus, and A relatively young Strip area. Many pelicans have been found dead in the Savuti area. – Malta. BirdLife's affiliates in group, Nature Conservation indiscriminate use of pesticides is a possible cause. those countries--BirdLife Egypt aims to increase Cyprus, BirdLife Malta, protection and appreciation of Rachel Carson first brought the possibility of a “Silent Spring” to our attention and LIPU in Italy—effectively the country's natural heritage, over 50 years ago. Progress has been made but we still need to be vigilant. combat poaching through the including the birds that International companies take advantage of marketing opportunities in less legal system and public migrate across its borders. aware countries. BLB Director Kabelobelo Senyatso is negotiating with senior education. WWF Italy supports volunteer Government officials and Ministers to increase awareness and change policy Committee Against Bird forest rangers who pursue Slaughter (CABS) rescues and arrest poachers, monitor in Botswana. His intention is to get the offending chemicals ‘off the shelves’ birds and destroys traps in illegal hunting and trapping and to find sponsorship to initiate a programme with staff to monitor the aggressive anti-poaching sites, and seize illegal traps situation. (Read more on p2) We need a WAKE UP call…….. operations in Italy, Cyprus, and devices that lure birds by Malta, Spain, and France. playing recorded birdsong. Please start thinking about contributions (written or photographic) for the Based in Germany, EuroNatur works to Jane J. Lee National next edition and send them NOW! protect birds along Geographic Published July Janet ([email protected]) the Adriatic Flyway, a 23, 2013 migratory route followed by Dear Colleagues, cause for concern, and effectively means that for every elephant poached, several hundred vultures are killed. Another 400-600 vultures have recently been killed in our environs (the Caprivi strip), which effectively means they were “Botswana’s birds”. As always, my team and I are available to provide more details and/or clarification on any of the issues raised on this note and the attached Because BirdLife Botswana has continually brought this issue to the documents. attention of Dept of Wildlife and National (DWNP), and seen very little urgency given to this matter, we are launching a public campaign. Regards, “I want Botswana's “I want Botswana's vultures Kabelo Senyetso ALIVE, not DEAD” vultures We hope to increase awareness on this issue, as well as articulate to Director Batswana why they should be concerned about the issue e.g. when you BirdLife Botswana lose vultures, you (1) lose income from tourism, (2) risk increased likelihood ALIVE, not DEAD” of disease as vulture remove dead animals that may harbour for instance anthrax, and (3) the use of poisons poses direct threats to human health, should some of the toxic chemicals be washed off into water-bodies (boreholes, rivers etc). The last point we hope will make more Batswana take heed of this crisis, and realise its not just a wildlife conservation issue, but has implications for their health. To this end, next week, BirdLife Botswana will be launching a public campaign and we will in due course share details with yourselves. The loss of between 400-600 birds in this single incident will affect populations in the entire sub-region, including Botswana, and should act as a catalyst for further action at a number of levels. Notably, BirdLife Botswana requests for greater involvement of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT) leadership to coordinate actions required off other Botswana agencies (the army, police, immigrations and customs, ministry of agriculture etc). In this regard, BirdLife Botswana hopes you will help our campaign and put pressure on MEWT (and other agencies that need to attend to this crisis) and to assist us in raising awareness at the highest levels in governments so that the poisoning of vultures can receive the appropriate attention and priority for action similar to that of rhino and elephant poaching in terms of legislation, pursuit of those responsible and penalties once the culprits are apprehended – Botswana should take the lead in demonstrating what action could be taken at country-level. The fact that these incidents can be directly linked to elephant poaching is a major “I want Botswana’s Vultures ALIVE – not DEAD”. Thirdly, poisoning of carcasses of poached wildlife, as happened with the This is the message that BirdLife Botswana wants all Batswana to take to approximately 400–600 vultures killed in Caprivi Strip, requires government heart, and help the organization in its efforts to reverse the decline facing and non-state actor input, and especially with actions coordinated across Botswana’s vultures. international boundaries. In this regard, the “I want Botswana’s Vultures ALIVE – Intentional and accidental poisoning are topmost threats to vultures in not DEAD” campaign seeks to raise awareness at the highest levels in Botswana, and over the years several incidences have been reported; for governments in Botswana and across southern African region, so that the instance more than 250 were killed in Kwando (Ngamiland District) in May poisoning of vultures can receive the appropriate attention and priority for 2012. A turning point in this crisis is that in July 2013, 400–600 dead vultures action similar to that of rhino and elephant poaching in terms of legislation, were found at a poisoned elephant carcass in Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. “This pursuit of those responsible and penalties once the culprits are apprehended. was an intentional attempt by poachers, who laced the carcass with a chemical The fact that these incidents can be directly linked to elephant poaching is a to kill vultures, because vultures congregate around carcasses and are major cause for concern, and effectively means that for every elephant therefore often used by law enforcers as an indication of poaching activity. poached, several hundred vultures are killed. Given that this occurred during the breeding season, many of these birds The generally negative public perception towards vultures worsens the would have been breeding, thus the total death toll when one considers eggs situation by making it difficult to convince people that the decline of vulture and chicks would most likely exceed 1,000 birds. Many of these would populations will have negative implications on their lives, such as loss of undoubtedly be “Botswana’s birds” and thus as nation, we should be environmental cleaning services and loss of income from tourism. concerned about this development”, he continued. Unfortunately this negative attitude permeates society at all levels at local, Vultures play an extremely important role in nature. They keep natural and national and international levels and it has been a challenge to convince man-made habitats free of carcasses, waste and even human excrement. This governments, donors and industries to support vulture conservation. What way, they limit the spread of diseases, such as anthrax and botulism, a rare people fail to realize is that all it takes is for one vulture poisoning event to disease that causes paralysis. In Botswana, as across much of Africa, they are occur near a water source such as a borehole or mogobe, and humans, would also of cultural value to many communities, and they have an important eco- then likely be killed or seriously harmed. Through the “I want Botswana’s Vultures tourism value. ALIVE – not DEAD” campaign BirdLife want each one of us to be able to In Botswana, BirdLife Botswana has identified three main routes through contribute towards fighting this crisis bearing in mind that it doesn’t only affect which vultures are poisoned, and the “I want Botswana’s Vultures ALIVE – not vultures, but our livelihoods and health. campaign will ensure individuals, farmers, government agencies and DEAD” BirdLife Botswana, together with collaborators in and outside Botswana, is private sector companies that may have intentionally or deliberately taking action to address the vulture crisis. Priority actions include: contributed to these threats are aware of the facts. 1) research and monitoring to produce evidence to persuade government Firstly some veterinary products and medicines, if given to livestock or wild and industry to change their practices and commit resources to vulture animals will poison vultures should they eat carcasses of such animals. conservation. Veterinarias and farmers should contact BLB for a list of products which should 2) map areas where vultures are found and the threats they face; not be used.