Why reduce the Indian House Crow population in Zanzibar?  House crows are an invasive species with no competition.  Zanzibar’s varied and wonderful native birds, which evolved with few predators, simply can’t compete.  (Read about a successful eradication project from another island in the Indian Ocean, Socotra/Soqotra here and that program's sponsorship page from the UNDP on the project here.)

Though various culling programs have proven successful in the past, reducing the House Crow numbers drastically (e.g., 85% in 1996), funding unfortunately dried up and the House Crow population bounced back quickly (exponential growth leading to crowding out native bird species).  

There is one project currently seeking funding, (see ZABISO House Crow Eradication).  However, our grass roots program, initiated and run by a local bird guide*, is already underway thanks to a one-time donation from birders visiting Zanzibar in mid-2022.  Two traps have been set up, and locations for additional traps have been negotiated with local landowners. And the traps are indeed working (contact us for details).  All trapped crows will be exterminated humanely.  Detailed statistics will be provided monthly to interested parties regarding numbers culled and expenses. 

Help us fund our project for 2 years! It costs approximately US$350/month to ensure traps are built, set up and maintained. We need to raise $8000 to fund this work for two years. If this funding target is successful, that may well be all that is needed in the near- to mid-term. Or to at least keep the population controlled until the ZABISO project gets up and running. 

Please contact us if you'd like more information on this project to protect Zanzibar's native species.

* Hendru is a professional bird guide and has seen the damage done firsthand by House Crows over the last decade.  He finally decided he must take action, in order to protect both the birds he loves and his job as a birding guide.