Year: 2008
Type: dissertation
Abstract: ABSTRACT \nThe project to release barn owls in semi-urban areas within Sebokeng was initiated when the \nGauteng Department of Health received complaints from Sebokeng residents about the \nincrease in black house rats Rattus rattus. This project was designed to investigate the \nefficacy of using owls as biological control agents of rats at three schools in Sebokeng, and to \ninform learners at these schools about barn owls, in light of the learners’ strong sense of their \nculture and the associated beliefs and superstitions. There were two aims to the project. \nFirstly, to assess whether and how released barn owls impact on rat populations in the \nvicinity of the schools. Secondly, to provide environmental education to previously \ndisadvantaged communities, and to assess how experiential group work using Outcomes \nBased Education (OBE) teaching changes the attitudes of learners towards owls. \nOwl boxes with two owlets each were established at two schools (SPS 1and SPS 3); \nanother school (SPS 2) had a resident breeding barn owl pair. A fourth school, SPS 4, was \nused as a control and no owls were released here. Snap trapping of rats took place at these \nschools and SPS 4 to assess the impact of owls on rat populations. Trapping took place \nbefore owls were present and after they were released at the release sites. At SPS 1 and SPS \n3, the percentage of rats caught per trap night decreased by 41 and 51% respectively after \nowls were released. At SPS 4, 34% more rats per trap night were caught than at SPS 2 (owls \nalways present). In addition, the rats caught were smaller and showed a distinct male bias, \npotentially indicating a shift in behaviour and/or changes in demography. \nThe environmental education part assessed the change in knowledge and perception \nof selected learners. Questionnaires were completed by the learners before the start of the \nenvironmental education as well as after the owl release programme started, where \napplicable. Learners at SPS 1 and SPS 3, who were required to feed and monitor the owlets \nbefore their release, showed significant changes in their perception, beliefs and enthusiasm \nfor the owls. Learners at SPS 2 were well informed about owls, while those at SPS 4 \nharboured misgivings for and a lack of knowledge about owls. \nThis study indicated that barn owls are suitable biological control agents for rats in the \nsemi-rural areas. The success of the release programme was achieved by active participation \nof learners and environmental education, highlighting the benefits of a multidisciplinary \napproach in the programme.
Author: Sharon A. Meyer
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Research Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W2155008098