Tanzanian experts call for a ban on illegal trading in birds

Bird experts at Tanzania's University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) on Sunday called for a ban on the increasing pace of illegal killing, taking and trading in wild birds, saying some of the bird species were facing extinction.

The experts called for the ban at a symposium organized by the Department of Zoology of UDSM while commemorating the World Migratory Bird Day, usually observed on May 10 every year.

Opening the symposium, the UDSM Head of Zoology Department and a senior lecturer, Dr. Flora Magige, said in recent years they have witnessed incredible number of migratory birds being lost each year as a result of illegal killing, taking and trading.

"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," she said.

Dr. Jason John, another senior lecturer at the east African nation's leading state university said the illegal bird trade in Tanzania was being caused by a lucrative market in Europe which bought birds from Tanzania.

John said many bird species in Tanzania were threatened with extinction because the law in the country, unlike in neighbouring Kenya, allowed to import and export birds from and to anywhere in the world.

Tanzania had 1,148 types of birds, but only 24 species were found in Tanzania now, he said, adding:" But when it comes to birds, no specie is safe from illegal trade."

He said many countries took advantage of countries which have not signed treaties to 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.

According to the expert, 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.

Dr. Chacha Werema, another expert, said many migrating birds were facing various threats causing loss of millions of them due to death and other infections.

He mentioned factors that were impacting migrating birds population as 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.

"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," he said. Endit