POISONING OF WILDLIFE IN SOUTH-AFRICA

Over a period of 7 years the Toxicology Diagnostic Laboratory at the O nderstepoort Veterinary Institute investigated 370 suspected incidents of poisoning of wildlife. A diagnosis was made in 166 of the outbreak s. Synthetic organic pesticides were responsible for 82.5% of the pois onings: More than 90% of the poisonings were maliciously intended and monocrotophos was the chemical most often used, The data were derived from authenticated outbreaks of poisoning and indicate the chemicals m ost often incriminated in acute poisoning of wildlife. Of all wild ani mals, birds are the most frequent victims of poisoning. Uncommon toxic ities such as ionophore, cardiac glycoside poisoning and chronic fluor osis are also described.