Egyptian goose
Alopochen aegyptiacus
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Photo Credit: ©Andreas Trepte
Alopochen aegyptiacus
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
Potential or Known Impacts:
How did it/could it get here?
Is it found in Ireland or Northern Ireland?
Methods for Prevention:
Alopochen aegyptiacus
Common Names:
Habitat:
Description:
- Egyptian goose
Habitat:
- Wetlands, including ponds and lakes, estuaries, wet woodland, parkland and meadows.
Description:
- The Egyptian goose can be recognised by its distinctive brown eye patch and reddish brown plumage.
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
- Native to Africa, the species was first introduced to Europe as an ornamental specimen for zoological collections and urban parks.
- It has since escaped into the wild and is now established in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Cyprus, Denmark and Poland.
Potential or Known Impacts:
- The Egyptian goose adapts easily to a wide range of environments.
- It is an aggressive species that is known to hybridize with other goose and duck species and it out-competes native fauna for food and nesting sites.
- When present in large numbers, its impacts include overgrazing, eutrophication and spread of diseases.
How did it/could it get here?
- It could be transported as an ornamental species, although a sales ban and eradication plan are in place.
Is it found in Ireland or Northern Ireland?
- Only two records in Ireland and only two records in Northern Ireland.
- More information can be seen on NBDC and NBN Atlas NI.
Static Distribution Map as of December 2019 - Courtesy of CEDaR
Methods for Prevention:
- A sales ban, the phasing out from zoos, collections and any other ownership, a rapid eradication of any newly emerging populations and the management of established populations should prevent the species from becoming a wider problem across the EU.
- Report all sightings to CEDaR
NIEA ID Guide Alopochen aegyptiacus Egyptian Goose