Do eggs from owls cure cancer? Apparently, this false claim has been identified as one of the biggest threats to the night birds at the Kenyan Coast.
The revelation in a research by University of Eldoret means the nocturnal birds face multi-pronged threats in the area.
On one side, scientists are engaging locals to dispel myths that owls are spooky birds that premeditate people’s deaths and steal spirits at night.
Daniel Mwamidi, a researcher from the university, says some people in Taita Taveta have also been spreading false rumours that their eggs cure all forms of cancers.
“This has given rise to business of searching for eggs from owls by jobless people in the community. This will have profound effects to the future population of owls in Taita area if no measures are taken to curb this ecological vice,” he warns. Another threat is the increasing habitat loss and degeneration.
“Threats facing owls include fragmentation of forests, encroachments and quarry mining destroying the caves,” Mwamidi says. He is currently leading a conservation project in the area to save the birds.
Although owls are not generally considered as highly threatened in Kenya, Mwamidi says their numbers are considerably reducing. “Owls face persecution due to the uncalled for myths that associates them with evil spirits or witchcraft due to their nocturnal nature. The Taita community still hold the myth that owls are evil thus killing them on sight,” he says.
The conservation drive is funded by National Birds of Prey Trust (NBPT) from United Kingdom at about Sh740,000. Mwamidi is currently promoting ecological awareness by locals and assessing the status of the roosting habitats of the Strigidae family of owls in Taita hills.
He is also visiting schools to hold conservation talks with students and teachers. He cautions farmers against poisoning rodents on their farms because this also kills owls.
“We also advise community members that the old and mature indigenous trees such as Prunus africana, Fig trees (Ficus thuningii), Phoenix renclinata and trees with wood pecker holes should be conserved because majority of owl species roosts on them,” he said. Mghange Location Chief, Phabian Kera confirms there is loss of indigenous tree cover in the region.
“One of our roles as administrators now, is to encourage our people to plant indigenous trees. As scientists have proved, loss of these trees has resulted to loss in many animal species,” he says. A farmer from Mwatungu village, Livingston Njulu, says also says the number of owls may have decreased.
“During my time as a teenager, we used to see owls all over the area at night. But now, the owls are no more. My last time to see an owl was last year,” says the 55-year-old man. “Our grandparents used to warn us about these night birds.
One story is that, when you hear it making noise outside your homestead at night, be warned that a sorcerer is within your compound,” he says. Mwamidi extols the many benefits these provide to counter the myths. He, for instance, says a single owl can save a whopping Sh830,000 (US$9803).
The birds can also save people from contacting diseases like tuberculosis, swine dysentery, mange, and brucellosis. He says conservation of owls will have long-term benefits in Taita hills in improving food security and restoring ecosystem integrity of Taita hills forest complex.
Mwamidi says owls have crucial functional ecosystem role of biological control of over 250 agricultural pests. He says: “Owls are the most economically beneficial species to human beings than of any other bird species because they control the population of rodents such as rats, mice, voles and squirrels.
“This is beneficial to the agricultural industry because a single owl can consume up to 750 rats in a year! This saves approximately 30,000kg of grains annually, since one rat destroys up to 40 kg of grain per year. When translated to monetary value, a single owl can save farmers from incurring losses of Sh830,000 per year.”
He adds that owls indirectly protect humans and livestock through cutting the cycle of many vector borne diseases transmitted by these rodents such as swine dysentery and brucellosis. “Owls are also important to bee keepers as they control the population of skunks that enter beehives and destroy the young brood of bees and honey amounting to huge economic losses to farmers,” he says.
Skunks, which are rampant in Taita, also eat farmers’ chicken and their eggs. “Owls are not bothered by the odour of a skunk. In fact, they attack, kill and consume skunks on sight. Owl is the only natural enemy that the skunk has,” he says. In addition, owls eat lizards, frogs, insects, scorpions and snakes. Mwamidi says owls are also referred to as ecological barometers because they help scientists estimate how healthy a habitat is.
“Owls are extremely sensitive to many environmental changes in an ecosystem. They can even sense chemical and pollutant levels that can give people an early warning sign of any impending ecosystem threats.
Pesticides and other chemicals can build up in our environment and are passed on to animals. This can reduce owls’ populations due to feeding on prey contaminated with toxins, which in turn signals scientists that a possible problem exists,” Mwamidi points out.
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