DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's Zanzibar authorities have allocated 1.8 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 681,000 U.S. dollars) for a special program to contain the population of invasive Indian crows, which the government says have affected agriculture, livestock, tourism, public health and biodiversity, an official said on Thursday.
Salum Soud Hamed, Zanzibar's deputy minister for agriculture, irrigation, natural resources and livestock, said the program aims to reduce the birds' destructive impact on crops and livestock, native bird species and public health.
He noted funds have been allocated in the 2026/2027 budget to implement the program for the benefit of the agricultural sector and the public.
According to the official, nine traps are currently being used to target about 13,000 crows, with the government planning to increase the number to 100 traps in an effort to remove 364,000 Indian crows from the archipelago annually.
The invasive birds also affect other bird species and small animals that contribute to Zanzibar's tourism and biodiversity, Hamed added. ■
