Bovine TB Increases In Kruger
Bovine tuberculosis, a highly contagious disease among buffalo in the Kruger National Park, has increased in the park's southern and central regions over the past six years.
A census in 1998 found that the southern region had the highest infection rate at 38% of buffalo tested for the disease, but this has since gone up to 43%. The increase is even higher in the central region, where it has increased from 16% to 25%. In the Satara area, 10% of healthy animals are infected annually.
American scientists are now helping to research the spread of the disease. The project is funded by the United States National Science Foundation and started in 2001.
Scientists from both the University of Berkeley in California and the University of Pretoria are working with Park officials to track the infected buffalo.
The Kruger project was chosen because buffalo move freely over a wide geographical area, but are still within a controlled area.
Between 80 and 90 buffalo in the central region of the park have been fitted with radio collars and have been found to move as far north as Punda Maria, while some have been spotted in the neighbouring Manyeleti and Klaserie Game Reserves.
Evidence suggests that bovine TB entered Kruger in the early 60s when there were outbreaks in the cattle population along the southern border of the Park.
Buffalo are not the only species that can be infected with bovine TB. Since 1990 it has also been found in lions, leopards, cheetahs, kudus and chacma baboons in the park.
In Buffalo and grazers, the disease is spread through breathing, sneezing and saliva, while predators get it by eating infected animals.
Kruger Park Times
A census in 1998 found that the southern region had the highest infection rate at 38% of buffalo tested for the disease, but this has since gone up to 43%. The increase is even higher in the central region, where it has increased from 16% to 25%. In the Satara area, 10% of healthy animals are infected annually.
American scientists are now helping to research the spread of the disease. The project is funded by the United States National Science Foundation and started in 2001.
Scientists from both the University of Berkeley in California and the University of Pretoria are working with Park officials to track the infected buffalo.
The Kruger project was chosen because buffalo move freely over a wide geographical area, but are still within a controlled area.
Between 80 and 90 buffalo in the central region of the park have been fitted with radio collars and have been found to move as far north as Punda Maria, while some have been spotted in the neighbouring Manyeleti and Klaserie Game Reserves.
Evidence suggests that bovine TB entered Kruger in the early 60s when there were outbreaks in the cattle population along the southern border of the Park.
Buffalo are not the only species that can be infected with bovine TB. Since 1990 it has also been found in lions, leopards, cheetahs, kudus and chacma baboons in the park.
In Buffalo and grazers, the disease is spread through breathing, sneezing and saliva, while predators get it by eating infected animals.
Kruger Park Times
Labels: central kruger, disease, klaserie, manyeleti, punda maria, southern kruger, tuberculosis
posted by Kruger2Canyons.com at
Thursday, April 15, 2004
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