Anthrax wipes out 110 hippos and 20 buffalo in Bwabwata National Park
Around 110 hippos and 20 buffalo have been wiped out in the Kavango East Region, in the Bwabwata National Park due to Anthrax.
Senior officials from the Directorate of Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and senior officials from the Directorate of Parks and Wildlife in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism are visiting the area to ascertain themselves of the situation and confirmed this week that anthrax is indeed the cause of death.
In a statement this week, the Environment Ministry said that the authorities are working around the clock to find an appropriate action to take. “We urge the public to refrain from touching and using the meat for consumption as this might be catastrophic,” they said.
The Ministry is also aware of concerns regarding the safety of tourists intending to visit the park, in this regard we would like to assure our tourists that there is no health hazard to people as a result of the situation.
“It is important to note that the area in which these mortalities are taking place is not open for tourists but are exclusively for wildlife management. However, as a precaution, we urge that tourists do not go close to the affected area by any means,” the officials added.
We are also aware of concerns regarding the species survival as these animals continue to die in big numbers. The Ministry take’s this issue seriously and will be able to respond to such concerns when the assessment is completed. To this end we do not foresee this situation threatening the existence of the affected species.
