Latest news with #Cherop
United News of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Cherop to be Uganda's sole participant at Silesia Diamond League
Kampala, Aug 15 (UNI) Uganda's Charity Cherop will be the country's sole representative at the IAAF Silesia Diamond League, scheduled for August 16 at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Poland. Cherop, 18, will line up in the women's 3,000m, facing a strong field that includes Kenya's three-time Olympic gold medalist Faith Kipyegon. Kipyegon has dominated the 1,500m since the 2016 Rio Olympics and last weekend set a new world record of 3:38.68 in Eugene, the United States. "I know it will not be an easy race because I will be competing against top runners who have recorded good times. But I have prepared well and I am confident of performing well," Cherop said. Athletics Uganda president Dominic Otuchet said that while Uganda has previously fielded more than two runners in Diamond League events, Cherop will be the country's sole participant this time. "Cherop has had enough time to prepare and we believe she is going to put up a good show in Poland. The race is very important for her because she has a chance to record a good time and qualify for the World Championships," Otuchet said. Cherop, who took bronze at the World U20 Championships in Peru last August, is also aiming to run a personal best and secure a berth at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next month. So far, 22 Ugandan athletes have qualified for the Tokyo event, with Cherop yet to join that list before the qualification window closes next week. UNI/XINHUA BM
eNCA
24-04-2025
- eNCA
Ugandans kill migrating storks in desperation for food
KAMPALA - Desperate Ugandans are using poison to kill thousands of migrating white storks and other protected birds because they have so few sources of food. In Ayoreri, a village on the Kenyan border, Sam Chekwoi, 42, said unpredictable rains and droughts have made it increasingly hard to feed his two wives and 11 children. "I used to farm but the sun would destroy my food crops. That is when I decided to start catching those birds to provide food for my children and myself," he said. He showed AFP how locals hunt their prey. First they catch a mouse and kill it, then pour a mixture of alcohol and rat poison into its mouth and leave it in the field for a bird to spot. The birds swoop down and quickly feel the impact of the poison. They try to fly away but cannot get very far and the villagers chase them down to finish the kill. AFP | Badru Katumba "When the birds eat the trap, they get weak, we catch them, kill them, and then eat them," said Chekwoi. He estimates he has eaten upwards of 300 storks since moving to the area in 2016. "If there was an alternative, I would do it," said Chekwoi. The activity risks heavy fines but locals feel they have no choice. - 'Only source of protein' - Joel Cherop, 45, a farmer and conservationist, grew up in the area and is trying to discourage the practice. AFP | Badru Katumba He estimates that some 3,000 white storks have been eaten by villagers since the start of the year when the migrating season began. Cherop described the birds as the "only source of protein" for many in the area. They can sell a stork for around 2,000 shillings or less than a dollar, he said. He has monitored the birds over the years and knows from tagging that some came from Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Although the nomadic communities in the region have degraded the land by cutting down too many trees for charcoal, Cherop empathises with their difficulties, especially the worsening droughts. "There is no doubt that crop failure tops the agenda in this community for the last 10 years," he told AFP. It feels particularly unfair, he said, to think that climate change is the result of industrial practices elsewhere in the world "the Americas, the Russias and the Chinas who are emitting billions of (tonnes of) carbon." AFP | Badru Katumba Cherop has started planting thousands of fruit trees around his farm in a bid to regenerate the land and is employing as many locals as he can with his limited means. He says the local villagers are simply trying to survive.
The Sun
24-04-2025
- The Sun
Ugandans kill migrating storks in desperation for food
NGENGE: Desperate Ugandans are using poison to kill thousands of migrating white storks and other protected birds because they have so few sources of food. In Ayoreri, a village on the Kenyan border, Sam Chekwoi, 42, said unpredictable rains and droughts have made it increasingly hard to feed his two wives and 11 children. 'I used to farm but the sun would destroy my food crops. That is when I decided to start catching those birds to provide food for my children and myself,' he said. He showed AFP how locals hunt their prey. First they catch a mouse and kill it, then pour a mixture of alcohol and rat poison into its mouth and leave it in the field for a bird to spot. The birds swoop down and quickly feel the impact of the poison. They try to fly away but cannot get very far and the villagers chase them down to finish the kill. 'When the birds eat the trap, they get weak, we catch them, kill them, and then eat them,' said Chekwoi. He estimates he has eaten upwards of 300 storks since moving to the area in 2016. 'If there was an alternative, I would do it,' said Chekwoi. The activity risks heavy fines but locals feel they have no choice. 'Only source of protein' Joel Cherop, 45, a farmer and conservationist, grew up in the area and is trying to discourage the practice. He estimates that some 3,000 white storks have been eaten by villagers since the start of the year when the migrating season began. Cherop described the birds as the 'only source of protein' for many in the area. They can sell a stork for around 2,000 shillings or less than a dollar, he said. He has monitored the birds over the years and knows from tagging that some came from Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Although the nomadic communities in the region have degraded the land by cutting down too many trees for charcoal, Cherop empathises with their difficulties, especially the worsening droughts. 'There is no doubt that crop failure tops the agenda in this community for the last 10 years,' he told AFP. It feels particularly unfair, he said, to think that climate change is the result of industrial practices elsewhere in the world -- 'the Americas, the Russias and the Chinas who are emitting billions of (tonnes of) carbon.' Cherop has started planting thousands of fruit trees around his farm in a bid to regenerate the land and is employing as many locals as he can with his limited means. He says the local villagers are simply trying to survive. 'These are hungry young people who have no food, so they found an alternative in the migratory birds,' he said.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ugandans kill migrating storks in desperation for food
Desperate Ugandans are using poison to kill thousands of migrating white storks and other protected birds because they have so few sources of food. In Ayoreri, a village on the Kenyan border, Sam Chekwoi, 42, said unpredictable rains and droughts have made it increasingly hard to feed his two wives and 11 children. "I used to farm but the sun would destroy my food crops. That is when I decided to start catching those birds to provide food for my children and myself," he said. He showed AFP how locals hunt their prey. First they catch a mouse and kill it, then pour a mixture of alcohol and rat poison into its mouth and leave it in the field for a bird to spot. The birds swoop down and quickly feel the impact of the poison. They try to fly away but cannot get very far and the villagers chase them down to finish the kill. "When the birds eat the trap, they get weak, we catch them, kill them, and then eat them," said Chekwoi. He estimates he has eaten upwards of 300 storks since moving to the area in 2016. "If there was an alternative, I would do it," said Chekwoi. The activity risks heavy fines but locals feel they have no choice. - 'Only source of protein' - Joel Cherop, 45, a farmer and conservationist, grew up in the area and is trying to discourage the practice. He estimates that some 3,000 white storks have been eaten by villagers since the start of the year when the migrating season began. Cherop described the birds as the "only source of protein" for many in the area. They can sell a stork for around 2,000 shillings or less than a dollar, he said. He has monitored the birds over the years and knows from tagging that some came from Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Although the nomadic communities in the region have degraded the land by cutting down too many trees for charcoal, Cherop empathises with their difficulties, especially the worsening droughts. "There is no doubt that crop failure tops the agenda in this community for the last 10 years," he told AFP. It feels particularly unfair, he said, to think that climate change is the result of industrial practices elsewhere in the world -- "the Americas, the Russias and the Chinas who are emitting billions of (tonnes of) carbon." Cherop has started planting thousands of fruit trees around his farm in a bid to regenerate the land and is employing as many locals as he can with his limited means. He says the local villagers are simply trying to survive. "These are hungry young people who have no food, so they found an alternative in the migratory birds," he said. er/phz
France 24
24-04-2025
- France 24
Ugandans kill migrating storks in desperation for food
In Ayoreri, a village on the Kenyan border, Sam Chekwoi, 42, said unpredictable rains and droughts have made it increasingly hard to feed his two wives and 11 children. "I used to farm but the sun would destroy my food crops. That is when I decided to start catching those birds to provide food for my children and myself," he said. He showed AFP how locals hunt their prey. First they catch a mouse and kill it, then pour a mixture of alcohol and rat poison into its mouth and leave it in the field for a bird to spot. The birds swoop down and quickly feel the impact of the poison. They try to fly away but cannot get very far and the villagers chase them down to finish the kill. "When the birds eat the trap, they get weak, we catch them, kill them, and then eat them," said Chekwoi. He estimates he has eaten upwards of 300 storks since moving to the area in 2016. "If there was an alternative, I would do it," said Chekwoi. The activity risks heavy fines but locals feel they have no choice. 'Only source of protein' Joel Cherop, 45, a farmer and conservationist, grew up in the area and is trying to discourage the practice. He estimates that some 3,000 white storks have been eaten by villagers since the start of the year when the migrating season began. Cherop described the birds as the "only source of protein" for many in the area. They can sell a stork for around 2,000 shillings or less than a dollar, he said. He has monitored the birds over the years and knows from tagging that some came from Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. Although the nomadic communities in the region have degraded the land by cutting down too many trees for charcoal, Cherop empathises with their difficulties, especially the worsening droughts. "There is no doubt that crop failure tops the agenda in this community for the last 10 years," he told AFP. It feels particularly unfair, he said, to think that climate change is the result of industrial practices elsewhere in the world -- "the Americas, the Russias and the Chinas who are emitting billions of (tonnes of) carbon." Cherop has started planting thousands of fruit trees around his farm in a bid to regenerate the land and is employing as many locals as he can with his limited means. He says the local villagers are simply trying to survive. "These are hungry young people who have no food, so they found an alternative in the migratory birds," he said. © 2025 AFP
