[Steely Tom]

Between 1958 and 1962, Chairman Mao initiated the "Four Pests" campaign, against rats, flies, mosquitos, and sparrows.

When the Chinese population went after the Eurasian tree sparrow, they pretty much wiped it out. The resulting explosion in the insect population, particularly of locusts, was a major factor in causing the Great Chinese Famine, which killed between 25 and 40 million people.

[FateAmenableToChange]

To get a really good famine going, you always need government assistance.