Mallard Ducks
A magnificent pest is invading our waterways and dams. It is a case of "Beauty and the Beast"; beauty to the uninformed and a beast to the local duck population. The release of mallard ducks is creating havoc worldwide.
ABOVE: MALLARD DUCK In South Africa these aliens are breeding with local ducks, especially the yellow-billed duck. Over time a variety of these hybrids will cause severe genetic pollution of South Africa's bio-diversity. The hybrid ducks are fertile and can produce more hybrid offspring. If this continues, only hybrids will occur and in the long term this will result in the extinction of various indigenous duck species. The mallard duck can cross breed with 45 other duck species. Mallard ducks and their hybrids compete with indigenous birds for resources such as food, nesting sites and roosting sites. The drakes (males) also kill the offspring of other waterfowl species by attacking and drowning them. ABOVE: HYBRID YELLOWBILL/MALLARD DUCKS
If you or anyone you know has any of these ducks roaming free on their property, please do the right thing. Make sure they are caged and not sharing a habitat with any indigenous ducks. Do your part in saving our bio-diversity. Please report all sightings of mallard and hybrid ducks to the following people:
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