Dear Editor,
As we celebrate World Environment Day, I would like to praise and thank Andy Narine and his group – Guyana Amazon Tropical Birds – for raising awareness and appreciation for our wild birds.
Last week, while visiting a local business establishment, I passed a small box on a table with four tiny holes. I heard movement and asked a young man what was inside the box. To my shock he said, “toucan.” I found the owner and asked why he had a toucan in such a small box and when last had he given it water; he reluctantly replied, “Recently.” To my utter shock, when he opened the box there was not one, but three toucans; two were very young and one was a good size. He then went to get a bowl and proceeded to throw water on the toucans. I immediately called my friend and true lover of animals, Andy Narine, leader of the local Guyana Amazon Tropical Birds group, and told him what I was witnessing. I then went to get him to take advantage of his expertise.
The owner of the toucans told us he is a logger and was cutting trees at a concession along the Berbice River. He said he did not know there were birds’ nests in the tree he was cutting until it was too late, and the babies fell to the ground and the mother flew away. He collected them, kept them at the logging camp for several days and was on his way home to Moruca, hoping to get something for the toucans from wildlife traders.
Andy saw how stressed the toucans were and knew the rest of the journey to Moruca would be long and hot. He said the birds would probably end up being sold to wildlife traders and one or more would likely die before or during export. We asked if we could take the birds off his hands for a small token and he agreed. We were relieved, paid him and took the toucans to Andy’s home, where they were put into a large cage with two bowls of fresh water. Rather than drink they begin fighting each other. Upon closer inspection, Andy saw their feet had been tied. The twine was cut off and the actions of the three toucans changed immediately as they started to drink water; they seemed very happy. We could not believe how much water they drank and how many ripe plantains they consumed. Thanks to a donation of puppy chow (moistened in water) from Zenobia Williams, Andy was able to augment their diet.
When the birds were full and comfortable, Andy studied them and informed me one was a Chanel Bill toucan and the other two were White-throated toucans. He said the two latter types were probably from the same nest and that the Chanel Bill was obviously from another nest.
This is just a small example of the mistreatment handed out to our wondrous wildlife in Guyana. On World Environment Day we should ask the questions: Do we really want such practices to continue in Guyana? What can each of us do to minimize the stress created by man on our wildlife?
The purpose of this letter is to raise awareness among owners and operators of mining and logging operations of the need to educate their workers on how to avoid damage to wild animals and their habitat. It is also a reminder that people on the street, from small children to adults, to be on the lookout for animals being mistreated and/or mishandled by wildlife traders. Who knows, maybe you or someone in your family will learn from Andy and his group of bird caretakers and be the next one to save or improve the quality of life for some innocent animal.
The people of Guyana owe a lot to groups like Andy’s who are doing what most of us only think about doing. Guyana Amazon Tropical Birds is a volunteer group operating on a shoe-string budget. Right now they desperately need help in buying a camera. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Andy and his supporters can be reached at telephone number # 225-2190 or email at guyanabirds society@yahoo.com
As soon as the three Toucans mature and grow back their flight feathers, they will be released into the wild.
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” – Aldo Leopold
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh
