World / Sun, 23 Jun 2024 Firstpost

'Saviours' to Kenya's biggest pest: Story of Indian crows in Africa

Kenyan government stirred headlines after it announced its plan to eliminate one million house crows by the end of this year. Earlier this month, the government stirred headlines after it announced its plan to eliminate one million house crows by the end of this year. According to Kenyans.co, the decision came after years of grappling with the disruptive presence of house crows. How crows became the ‘saviours’ at the time of the garbage crisisAdvertisementInterestingly, house crows’ presence in Africa goes way back. AdvertisementAn invasive speciesAfrica is not the only continent that has become the victim of this invasive species’ expansionist nation.

Kenyan government stirred headlines after it announced its plan to eliminate one million house crows by the end of this year. Here’s a look at how the saviours of past became the villains of the present read more

Kenyan government planned to exterminate one million crows by the end of 2024. Source: Unsplash

While the world tries to navigate through all sorts of conflicts and battles, the government of Kenya has declared an all-out war against crows, more specifically, Indian crows.

Earlier this month, the government stirred headlines after it announced its plan to eliminate one million house crows by the end of this year. According to Kenyans.co, the decision came after years of grappling with the disruptive presence of house crows.

In a statement over the matter, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) went on to label these crows as “invasive alien birds”, adding that crows have plagued the public for decades.

While the species of Corvus splendens, commonly referred to as house crows, had their origins in India and other parts of Asia, they can be seen in parts of Europe, the Americas and Africa as well. However, what makes the issue interesting is the fact that what is a menace for modern society used to be touted as a strong asset in the past.

Why is Kenya so adamant about killing Indian crows?

The authorities noted that house crows have wreaked havoc on local bird populations and posed significant challenges to the hospitality sector, particularly along the coastal regions.

According to KWS, the crows have not only driven local bird species from their natural habitats. While speaking at a meeting attended by various stakeholders, including representatives from the hospitality sector and wildlife conservation organizations Prof. Charles Musyoki, Director of Wildlife and Community Service representing the KWS Director General, emphasised the urgency of the house crow eradication programme.

Farmers in Kenya have also expressed concerns regarding the proliferation of these crows since the invasive birds affect their crops. The presence of house crows also poses numerous threats, including disease transmission, predation on native bird species and their eggs, and disturbance to residents and tourists with their incessant cawing.

It is pertinent to note that this is not the first time the government has initiated plans to deal with the birds. The previous attempt was conducted by the Kenyan government 20 years ago and played a significant role in reducing the crow population. However, the recent rise in numbers necessitated the authorities to come up with an extermination plan.

How are they going to go about it?

KWS has said that it is keen on using mechanical and targeted methods to kill the birds, even as the Kenya Pest Control and Products Board (PCPB) gave hoteliers the green light to import licensed poison.

PCPB went on to state that poisoning is the most effective way of controlling the population and these poisons won’t be harmful to the general public since they will disintegrate within the bird’s body. Some people in the coastal regions have already started using Larsen traps (a cage-like device to live-trap birds with the help of a decoy).

How crows became the ‘saviours’ at the time of the garbage crisis

Interestingly, house crows’ presence in Africa goes way back. They were first introduced in Zanzibar in the 1890s to control the garbage crisis in the region. According to Kenyans.co, the species started to arrive on the Swahili coastline in the 1940s.

Since then, they have become a formidable challenge for local authorities. Their omnivorous diet and their adaptability to urban environments have fuelled their rapid expansion.

When it comes to Keny, their presence is morning found in areas with abundant waste making rapidly developing urban centres like Mombasa, Malindi, Watamu, and Kilifi. These house crows are believed to have entered Mombasa in 1947 via ships or from neighbouring Zanzibar.

An invasive species

Africa is not the only continent that has become the victim of this invasive species’ expansionist nation.

The adaptive nature of these crows has reached most places where human settlements are present. The gregarious birds are also found from Europe to West Asia, Australia to the Americas.

Hence, it will be worth seeing how Kenya plans to tackle the problem.