Rare Shoebill Stork rescued from poachers

By Titus Kakembo A shoebill stork, a rare bird on the brink of extinction, was rescued from poachers by officials of Uganda Safari Guides (USG) on a bird watching expedition in Mabamba landing site, 50km from Kampala. The rescue took place on December 2. The bird was handed over to the technical adviser, Uganda wildlife Centre, Wilhelm Moller. The poacher, Musoke Wilson, said he had kept the bird in captivity after breaking one of its wings. He then tied its beak with banana fibres for 30 days at his home as he looked for potential buyers. Musoke said he intended to sell the bird for sh800,000. Musoke told The New Vision that he had heard that the endangered bird was selling for sh4m at Ishaka in the Democratic Congo Republic of Congo. He confessed to the USG executive director, Mr. Mutebi Hassan, that this was not his first venture in the illegal bird trade. He said he had previously sold younger shoebills and unhatched eggs worth sh1,100,000. Musoke asked the rescuers to compensate him as he had spent so much money and time feeding the bird on mud fish, toads and snakes. The USG general secretary Herbet Byaruhanga said the bird's population is about seven in Uganda. Ends.