One of the world’s worst invasive species, the pesky Indian myna, has rapidly infiltrated the Kruger National Park over the past 20 years, worrying conservationists.
The bird, also known as the common myna, is native to south-east Asia, but established as an alien globally, including in South Africa, where it is invasive, explained Dr Llewellyn Foxcroft, a SANParks scientist at the Kruger and a core team member of the Centre for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University.
The aerial invaders have a strong preference for urban areas and usually do not expand into natural areas, he said.
“The mynas have been spreading eastwards through the country, resulting in the populations building up in increasing numbers in our neighbouring towns. These towns have provided ideal habitat, as in all the cities/towns where they have invaded. However, as their numbers started building up outside the boundaries, they started spreading into tourist camps and staff villages in the park.”
The number of mynas has grown dramatically over the last few years. They are known to be fairly aggressive species and seem to be in an initial phase of setting up. The major concern is that they are damaging to other bird species but, given the vastness and complexities of the Kruger, there is still some uncertainty about how big an impact they will have.