Kenya is Planning to Kill 1 Million Indian House Crows in the Next Six Months

Kenya has announced a bold initiative to eradicate a million Indian house crows (Corvus splendens) by the end of 2024. 

This decision comes after decades of trying to control the population of these invasive birds, which have significantly impacted the local ecosystem and posed challenges to both the tourism and agricultural sectors. 

The Kenyan government, through the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), is spearheading this ambitious plan, which involves poisoning the crows to mitigate their adverse effects.

The Indian house crow, also known by various names such as the Indian crow, grey-necked crow, Ceylon crow, and Colombo crow, originated from India and other parts of Asia but has since spread to many parts of the world, primarily through shipping activities. 

These crows arrived in East Africa around the 1940s and have since demonstrated significant invasive potential, not just in Kenya but across the tropics. 

Their presence in Kenya has led to a notable decline in the populations of small indigenous birds, as they destroy nests and prey on eggs and chicks.

The negative impact of the Indian house crows extends beyond just the species they directly target. 

Colin Jackson, a conservationist and bird expert at Rocha Kenya, explains that the decline in indigenous bird populations has broader ecological repercussions. 

When local birds decline, the environment starts to deteriorate, pests and insects proliferate, and a ripple effect impacts the entire ecosystem. 

Local bird species such as scaly babblers, pied crows, mouse-colored sunbirds, weaver birds, common waxbills, and various aquatic bird species along the Kenyan coast have been severely affected by the invasive crows.

The tourism industry, which is Kenya’s third-largest source of foreign exchange earnings after diaspora remittances and agricultural exports, has also been significantly impacted by the Indian house crows. 

Hoteliers and tourists have complained about the nuisance these birds create, disrupting meals and general enjoyment. 

Additionally, farmers have expressed concerns about the crows' aggressive appetite for germinating crops and their attacks on poultry chicks. 

Local poultry farmer Mwanjani Runya shared his frustrations, describing how the crows can carry off up to 20 chicks in a day, necessitating constant monitoring of young poultry.

Previous attempts by the government to control the population of invasive bird species over 20 years ago had some success but were ultimately insufficient due to the crows' remarkable adaptability and association with human settlements. 

This necessitated the development of new plans. 

The current strategy involves mechanical and targeted methods to kill the birds. 

The Kenya Pest Control and Products Board (PCPB) has given hoteliers the green light to import licensed poison, citing poisoning as the most efficient way to control the burgeoning population of these invasive birds, estimated to be around a million in the Kenyan coastal region alone.

The action plan to eradicate a million Indian house crows by December 31, 2024, underscores the Kenyan government's commitment to addressing the house crow problem following public outcry from hoteliers and farmers in the coastal region. 

Charles Musyoki, director of wildlife and community service representing the KWS director-general, emphasized the importance of this initiative in preserving Kenya’s biodiversity and supporting the tourism and agricultural sectors. 

This concerted effort involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including representatives from the hotel industry, veterinarians specializing in house crow control, and conservation organizations like Rocha Kenya.