Probe into death of vultures
2001-04-18 14:10
Pretoria- Police and conservation officers are to investigate the
circumstances surrounding the death of nine African Whitebacked
vultures that were found at Balule in the Kruger National Park
region last week.
A toxicological analysis performed by the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute on two of the dead vultures found that the birds died as a result of ingesting monocrotophos, one of the most toxic organophosphate pesticides in the world.
The chairman of the poison working group, Gerhard Verdoorn, on
Wednesday said the vultures were believed to have used a waterhole that was poisoned with monocrotophos,
"Vultures have been poisoned before in this region for traditional medicine but at this stage it is impossible to link any such activity to the death of these vultures," Verdoorn said.
Verdoorn said registration holders of monocrotophos had agreed to
phase the product out of the South African market and by March 2003 it would no longer be produced, sold or used in the country. - Sapa
- SAPA