The red-billed quelea is the world's most numerous wild bird, forming vast flocks that cause enormous crop damage across sub-Saharan Africa. Lethal control methods raise major welfare concerns.
Mass pesticide application to quelea roosts causes an agonising death for millions of birds simultaneously, along with significant bycatch of other species including raptors, herons, and storks that share roost sites. Organophosphate poisoning causes seizures, paralysis, and prolonged suffering. The scale of lethal control is extraordinary, with hundreds of millions of birds killed annually. Development and adoption of effective non-lethal deterrents and resistant crop varieties would substantially reduce this welfare burden while addressing genuine food security concerns.