Oduntan O.O. , Shotuyo A.L.A. , Akinyemi A.F. , Soaga J.A.

1. Department of Forestry and Wildlife Mgt, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
2. Department of Wildlife & Ecotourism Mgt, University of Ibadan
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2015, Vol. 5, No. 2   doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2015.05.0002
Received: 03 Feb., 2015    Accepted: 04 Mar., 2015    Published: 15 Mar., 2015

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Oduntan et al., 2015, Human-wildlife Conflict: A View on Red-Billed Quelea (Quelea quelea), International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, Vol.5, No.1, 1-4 (doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2015.05.0002)

Human-wildlife Conflict (HWC) is any interaction between humans and wildlife resulting in negative consequences on humans, wildlife conservation and the environment. Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea (RBQ) of the family Ploceidae are gregarious and breed in large colonies. They pose a serious problem to the development and expansion of mechanized cereal (rice, millet, sorghum and wheat) schemes. It is estimated that RBQ feed and destroy grains equivalent to their average weight per day. Thus, a flock of 2 million birds can destroy up to 50 tons of grain in a day worth an equivalent of $600,000. As a result of their enormous numbers, high reproductive potential, and the vast often inaccessible range and habitat they occupy, RBQ are extremely difficult to control. Control of RBQ by spraying its breeding colonies and roosts with organophosphate pesticides is often associated with detrimental effects on non-targeted organisms. This study evaluates the conflicts resulting from RBQand its economic damages on farmlands, consequences of this interaction, and control methods. Study of food shortage periods and Quelea migrations are highlighted as most efficient in predicting crop damage. Furthermore varying planting times and selection of short-cycle cereals may avoid damage in some situations.

Human-Wildlife Conflicts; Quelea Birds; Avian Pests; Crop Damage