Friday 26 / April / 2024
Al Rustaq: Around 61,449 invasive birds, including 2,561 Indian crows and 58,888. mynas were eliminated in the wilayats of Barka and Musannah in the South Al Batinah Governorate since the launch of the campaign on December 31, 2023 until the end of January as part of the campaign launched by the Environment Authority in various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
The Environment Department in the South Al Batinah Governorate stated that 34,880 birds were eliminated in the Wilayat of Musannah and 26,569 birds in the Wilayat of Barka.
The Director of the Environment Department in South Al Batinah Governorate, said: “The Environment Authority launched this campaign for reducing the number of invasive birds in the ecosystem and to maintain its components by targeting some other species that feed on the chicks and eggs of other birds, reptiles, insects and rodents. Their presence causes an imbalance in the environment, in addition they damage agricultural crops, fruits and grains, which has a negative impact on the economic resources and sources of income in the Sultanate of Oman.”
A number of mechanisms and means of control have been used to eliminate the invasive birds, notably by shooting them, which is considered safer and more effective.
The Director of the Environment Department in South Al Batinah Governorate added: “This campaign was accompanied by surveys and field monitoring for research purposes, including a visit by specialists from the Sultan Qaboos University who are in charge of the research project titled ‘Comprehensive survey of common myna birds in the Sultanate of Oman’.
It should be noted that the national campaign launched by the Environment Authority to combat invasive birds in Oman began in the Dhofar Governorate, then in North Al Batinah Governorate, and is currently continuing in the South Al Batinah Governorate.
