Media
Release
starts
Compound
1080 Research Project Completed
27
August 2004
The
Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Poison Working Group (PWG) believes that the
development of a Single Lethal Dose Bait product has the potential to help
reduce the massive poison abuses currently occurring daily in South Africa.
Since 1998, the PWG has been researching the feasibility of developing such a
product and has now completed this project, as funding received was for
laboratory research only. The EWT’s Poison Working Group will now act only as
an environmental ‘watchdog’ or advisor, to ensure that any further
activities conducted are done so legally and ethically.
In
1993, the (then) Natal Parks Board tabled a proposal to the National Problem
Animal Policy Committee (NPAPC) to investigate the possibility of using Single
Lethal Dose Baits (SLDB) for so-called problem-animal management, specifically
stock predation by Black-backed Jackals. The chemical recommended was Sodium
monofluoroacetate, or Compound 1080 as it is commonly known, as this chemical is
generally more toxic to canids than to other animal groups.
The
idea was accepted by the NPAPC, but not acted upon. In the meantime, the Poison
Working Group of the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) was recording massive
misuse and abuse of agrochemicals countrywide as farmers attempted to solve
their ongoing conflicts with wildlife in any way possible. In order to try and
reduce this mayhem, in 1998, the Poison Working Group moved to act on the NPACP
decision and to implement a research project to test the feasibility of SLDB-use
under strictly controlled conditions in South Africa. The rationale behind the
decision was to lead farmers away from wanton abuse of agrochemicals, as
evidenced by the PWG’s national wildlife poisoning incidents records, whilst
ensuring that any such research programme was conducted under the strictest
controls, overseen by the PWG. The
PWG has also always worked on the principle that the use of poisons should only
ever be as a last resort, when all other problem-animal management methods have
failed. Cape Wools SA, representing the interests of the small stock farming
community, offered to fund the research project, in the interests of finding
more acceptable solutions to wildlife conflict experienced by farmers and help
move away from the abuses.
The
research proposal was taken to INDAC, the government Inter-Departmental Advisory
Committee, to assess whether the proposal was acceptable in principle. Authority
was obtained from the Department of Health’s Environmental Health Directorate
to conduct such a research project, including the legal importation of a trial
volume of the chemical.
Over
the next five years of intensive research, a bait suited for this purpose has
been developed, in which the chemical remains stable in its package for an
indefinite shelf life (in laboratory trials to date). The developer, a
consultant contracted under the project, has proven that by manipulating the
enzyme activity in the bait, it is also possible to manipulate both the shelf
life and the field life of the product after the sealed package is opened for
use. These innovations allow for a product which can be much more easily
controlled in the field, minimising many of the negative environmental impacts
of existing products such as secondary poisoning of wildlife.
Because
of the emotive side of problem animal management the project has always been
controversial, but the conservation focus to minimise abuses and secondary
poisonings of non-target animals and birds by using a scientifically formulated
product has always been the objective of the project. Both the EWT and it’s
PWG have faced severe criticism for their involvement, but remain convinced that
the principles behind the project were sound.
The
laboratory component of the research has been conducted under the strictest
controls and is now complete. No baits have been tested outside of laboratory
trials and no animals have been involved in any testing. The PWG is satisfied
that the feasibility of the SLDB product, as now formulated, has great potential
for reducing the massive poison abuses we currently see daily in South Africa.
This project has now reached a point where the sponsors need to decide on its
future, as funding was for the laboratory research component only. The role of
the EWT’s Poison Working Group in bringing it legally and successfully to this
point is now complete and any further involvement will only be to ensure that
any further activities conducted are done so within legal, environmentally
acceptable and permitted protocols.
The
Poison Working Group pro-actively implements conservation programmes to prevent
the misuse, abuse and irresponsible use of pesticides that impact on wildlife
and the environment.
Ends
Endangered Wildlife Trust Poison Working Group
Tim Snow
Field Operations Manager; EWT Poison Working Group
Telefax +27(0)33 2677171
Mobile +27(0)82 4634104
www.ewt.org.za
Issued by:
Director:
Dr Nick King
Endangered
Wildlife Trust
P/Bag
X11, Parkview 2122
Johannesburg
South
Africa
T:
+27 11 4861102
F:
+27 11 4861506
e-mail:
nickk@ewt.org.za
Member of
IUCN