I have been very interested to read all the comments and different people’s views on Furadan, on this blog, on the CBS 60 minutes page, and on the Stop the manufacture of Furadan Facebook group. What do you think? Should we be blaming the manufacturers for producing this poison, or the Government for allowing it to be sold here in Kenya when it has been banned in other countries, (I now hear that it is now banned here but we still see it on the shop shelves) or should we be blaming the people here who are using it to kill wildlife, like this beautiful lion, that sadly died from poisoning.
Tell us what you think!
Whatever your view on Furadan, I would like to thank you very much for your donations, which will directly help the work of the Lion Guardians here in Kenya. The project is completely funded by donations and grants, and the money you donate will go towards paying the salaries of the Guardians, their equipment and training, and all the other costs of running this project here in Maasailand.
All the Guardians are extremely grateful for the support they receive from blog readers, and are so excited that they are being supported from the other side of the world! Here are Lion Guardians Kapande and Koikai.
We are currently expanding the program to two neighbouring ranches where lion killing and the use of poisons to kill wildlife is still widespread, so your donations are needed now more then ever. THANK YOU!
Antony:
Hopefully good new: The Philadelphia-based manufacturer of a pesticide blamed by conservationists for the poisoning deaths of lions in Kenya says it’s taking “aggressive action” to prevent misuse of the product, halting sales to the country and trying to buy back supplies.
Article at: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5inIPiDuoQjWhe6ITWeHc-TbTPD7gD9781OJG0
If they can accomplish this, it will be great news for Kenyan wildlife.
many companies make a lot of promises to improve their public image for the sake of sales ( profits ), therefore never take their words as truths. in many cases i have read and heard, only lawsuits and public outrage forced companies to do what is right and good for the world in the long run. Forgetting killing lions, what about poisoning the precious drinking water for people with this needless poison? if the european growers are using other pesticides, other farmers can use them too if the costs are within their reach.
HiJan –
Thanks for that info & link.Let us hope that the devilish Furadan disappears from Kenya & gives our predators achance.This is very good news.
Antony:
I am guessing it will take a long time before it is entirely gone. Many shops/kiosks still have it on their shelves(some were hiding the fact that they have it). Thus even though the company may no longer ship to Kenya, it will take time for the supply already there to disappear.
Therefore, please don’t give up the great job you do trying to explain to the people why it is wrong for them to use it. It is devastating not only to lions, but all the large birds and smaller scavengers that feed off the carcass of poisoned lions. Please don’t let your guard down.
Antony,
I’m glad to hear that your government has banned any further importing of Furadan. I hope that is correct. In the meantime, would it be possible to buy up all the poison that is on store shelves? The documentary said it costs $2 a bottle. Maybe the man (on the documentary) who is paying people for their livestock that is lost to lions, would be willing to donate money to buy up all of the remaining Furadan. Or may be you could have a special fund quickly set up so we could all donate to buy up the poison. At $2 a bottle, I can’t imagine that it would be that much money.
Since (hopefully) no more Furadan will coming into the country, I hope that people aren’t going to stockpile it, knowing they won’t be able to buy it anymore.
If it is correct that the government has now banned it, maybe they could put up the money to buy it from the stores.
Just some thoughts…Good luck!
Hashi
Hi Anthony, I think it’s time we submit a joint paper to the minister to remind him about the scale of the problem and the power he has to stop Furadan use NOW!