Kenyan wildlife is being poisoned by a highly toxic pesticide, carbofuran, which is manufactured and sold by Chinese companies Topsen Biotech, SinoHarvest and others. The toxin has caused the deaths of five hippopotamuses and paralysis in four lions that fed on their bodies. The chemical, banned in the European Union and, as of January 2008, in the U.S. due to “unreasonable adverse effects on humans and the environment,” was found in the area where the hippos had been grazing. According to The Earth Times, carbofuran poisoning of Kenyan wildlife is not a new problem. In 2004, 187 vultures died from carbofuran poisoning near the Athi River and other birds, mistaking the pesticide for seeds, have died from ingesting the poison.
At least one of the paralyzed lions has already been put down by wildlife authorities, the autopsy revealing large amounts of carbofuran in his system. Anthropologist Richard Leakey, chairman of Wildlife Direct, is appealing to the Kenyan government to ban carbofuran, along with other wildlife advocates. The chemical is cheap and easily available, though the use of large amounts is supposed to be regulated. According to The Telegraph, red flags were first raised about carbofuran use in Kenya in the 1990’s when large numbers of waterfowl died with some being sold for human consumption. Reports also claim that carbofuran is being used to catch fish from Lake Victoria which is later sold in food markets. In addition, the watchdog group Lion Guardians reports that at least two lions were intentionally poisoned with carbofuran by ranchers looking to protect their cattle from the predators.
The use of toxic pesticides and chemicals in Kenya has been an ongoing issue for conservationists. Even NASA has pointed out on its website that Kenyan flower exports are reliant on toxic chemicals, some of which are poisoning hippos and posing risks to workers and other wildlife. Back in 2002, environmental groups warned the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that the chemicals being used in the flower industry may also threatened the water quality of Lake Naivasha, one of Kenya's few freshwater lakes. The Kenya Flower Council, in response, began to phase out one of the most toxic pesticides, but clearly more regulation is needed.
Raptor specialist, Simon Thomsett warns that two vulture species in Kenya may face extinction in the next ten years if current levels of carbofuran use continues. With Kenya’s lion population already under stress and only an estimated 2,000 individual lions remaining, continued use does not bode well for the big cats, either. In South Africa it is estimated that 16% of wildlife poisoning incidents are due to carbofuran. It is no surprise that Juanco SPS, the main distributor of the carbofuran being used in Kenya, Furadan, claims that their product cannot kill wildlife. Tell that to the five hippos and the lion that have already been claimed by the poison and the three other lions that may have to be euthanized.
