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People vs. Guineafowl
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14 Jan 1996 - Farm Wildlife is considered 'fari game' to farm workers
CULTURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE DECLINE
IN GUINEAFOWL POPULATIONS
Luthando Maphasa, 1996
The study which was carried out between October and December 1995, showed that the decline in guineafowl populations can be attributed to a number of factors. While it was found that some farm workers did value wildlife and guineafowl in particular, people living in rural villages were found to be more likely to hunt guineafowl illegally in order to obtain meat than for other reasons. However most rural villagers poached because they believe that they have a right to kill guineafowl and other wildlife on private land.
Although not widely discovered, poisoning of guineafowl has resulted in people killing large numbers. Bait (corn soaked in urea in most cases) was reported to be the “best way" of killing many birds. The SOP (Synthetic Organic Pesticides) are the commonest cause of poisoning of wildlife on farms. There was clear evidence obtained during the study that most farm workers know of these and other organochloride insecticides and a few of them deliberately use them to kill guineafowl. In other cases farm workers did not know of any negative consequences that these insecticides have on guineafowl and wildlife in general.
From the study, I think it is important that farmers try to teach their workers how to effectively apply chemicals and/or pesticides so as to stop acute poisoning of game animals including guineafowl. The poor relations between some farmers and their workers and also rural villages makes it difficult for wildlife to be safe on farms. Although not easy to solve, a few farmers reported that giving workers incentives like game meat has in many cases encouraged them to look after game and other wildlife found on farms. Others noted that the Natal Parks Board education groups have done well in teaching their workers and rural villagers about the need to conserve wildlife and thus changed their negative attitudes towards wildlife on private land.
Editor’s Note:
Luthando Maphasa conducted this research in partial fulfilment of requirements of his Msc. We congratulate him on the award of his degree and his appointment as a lecturer at at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
The KwaZulu-Natal Gamebird AGRED newsletter Autumn 1996 |
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