Braids not environment friendly; trapping birds

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Friday September 3, 2010 00:00

It all has to do with how the braids are disposed of and while one would not think much of weaves of braids lying on the ground or hanging from trees, many birds are often caught up in the web of this fashion item, making it almost impossible to extricate themselves.

I have often seen birds trapped by a braid thread at the top of a tree.

While I managed to ignore my first experience with a struggling bird, when I encountered a second such incident I could not help but stop and try to free it.

Alas, I failed as it was at the top of a tree, and could only walk away leaving it to continue its tired death struggle.

This past weekend in Molepolole, I saw several chicks with braid threads tangled in their feet that hampered their pace as they scurried after the mother hen.

Apparently while humans can just kick aside these discarded braids which have become a common sight on the streets of our villages and cities, for the birds it's a different matter altogether. More often than not it's a life and death matter.

How disheartening to know that while women continue to enhance their looks and boost their confidence as a result, a 'new' threat to bird life has been created.

BirdLife Botswana Project Officer, Keddy Mooketsa says that the problem is prevalent with common birds like doves, sparrows and chicken.  These are birds that live amongst people.

Disposed braids would not affect birds in the forests or too far from people, she revealed. Mooketsa advises the public to call her office on 3190540 if they see a bird trapped or in need of assistance. 

'We can always help free these birds back into the world,' she said.

She says that besides the issue of disposed braids affecting common birds, the organisation is concerned of dangers faced by birds in wetlands and those that are hunted.

'Wetlands are habitats for some birds and it is sad that some people dispose of substances into the water.  Again there are people who hunt birds like kgori and we do not have many of these. No one is allowed to hunt them,' she said. 

Gaborone City Council Town Clerk, Agnes Segari says that disposal of braids is a controversial issue since it is hard to control how people dispose off braids at homes compared to at salons. 

'We insist that salon owners have an effective way of disposing off braids and other waste, but it is difficult to control how people dispose it at homes or in the streets where people usually plait their hair,' she said.

She says responsible disposal of unwanted braids is the key to protecting these birds. 'There is nothing we can do but I think education can make a difference in people,' Segari said.