'Marabous good for garbage clearance'

Dec 28, 2000

Uganda has the second largest population of the garbage-eating birds, Marabou Storks in Africa, a research has revealed.

By Gerald Tenywa Uganda has the second largest population of the garbage-eating birds, Marabou Storks in Africa, a research has revealed. This is attributed to economic growth and increase in human population. According to a report entitled, "The State of Uganda's Biodiversity 2000'', recently compiled by Makerere University Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (MUIENR), Kampala's colony of Marabous, in terms of nests, is second to that of Somalia, which has been monitored for about two decades. The report says Marabous have benefitted from an improving economy and increasing human population, which resulted into more discarded meat, fish heads, chicken feet and other food. It says the Marabous have a significant contribution because they clear large amounts of garbage in urban areas especially Kampala, Hoima, Mubende and Masaka. Despite such ecological benefits, Kampala City Council has made several attempts to eliminate them by poisoning and destroying their nests. About 40 Marabou colonies are known in Uganda. The first colony in Kampala (Nateete) was sighted in the 1968-69 breeding season. Large colonies exist in rural areas. The largest with 164 nests is Kakooge in Luweero District. The Marabous are categorised as scavenger birds. Ends.

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