Over 93,000 invasive birds eliminated in Oman

Muscat: More than 93,000 invasive birds have been eliminated in Dhofar Governorate.

 The number of invasive birds, the "myna and Indian crow", that were eliminated in the Dhofar Governorate reached more than 93,000 birds as part of the national campaign to combat them, which was implemented by the Environment Authority. It lasted for six months.

 This came during a review of the results of the campaign at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah, under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority and Chairman of the Main Committee for Combating Invasive Birds.

Eng. Sulaiman bin Nasser Al Akhzami, Director General of the Directorate General of Nature Conservation at the Environment Authority, delivered a speech in which he referred to the authority's efforts in the field of combating invasive species in general, and in particular the invasive birds "mynah bird" and Indian crow" as a result of their spread in different areas of the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman and reached them through several methods. The most important of which are ports through cargo ships and steamships, in addition to supplying them such as ornamental birds.

  In light of the initial indications and field observations, invasive birds were dealt with and solutions were found to limit their spread in the Sultanate of Oman due to the effects they cause on the Omani environment, including the effects on the ecosystem and the balance of Its components by targeting these birds as prey of some other species that feed on them and cause an ecological balance.In addition to the diversity of its sources of nutrition for wildlife, which negatively affects the economic resources and sources of income in the Sultanate of Oman .” Al-Akhzami added.

Al Akhzami confirmed that these types of invasive birds are concentrated in the coastal areas, especially the governorates of North and South Al Batinah and Muscat, all the way to the Dhofar Governorate, where they were observed in large numbers in the coastal areas and neighbouring villages

The event included two visual presentations. The first dealt with the field work of the national campaign to combat invasive birds in Dhofar Governorate, while the second reviewed the field surveys that were carried out to determine the hotspots of the spread of these birds and the sites where they exist. In addition to the signing of a cooperation program between the Environment Authority and the University of Dhofar in the field of nature conservation and environmental preservation.

 In conclusion, His Highness the Governor of Dhofar, the sponsor of the occasion, honoured a number of relevant authorities, institutions and individuals participating in the national campaign to combat invasive birds in Dhofar Governorate.