Over 50 Hippos Dead in Congo’s Virunga Park Due to Anthrax Outbreak
Congo's iconic park battles deadly disease while facing setbacks in conservation efforts
- Anthrax outbreak claims lives of at least 50 hippos in Virunga National Park
- The park faces a significant blow to its long-term efforts to restore its hippo population.
- Local authorities and conservationists are working to control the outbreak
An anthrax outbreak has led to the death of at least 50 hippos and several other large animals in eastern Congo’s Virunga National Park. Park officials confirmed that anthrax was the cause of the deaths, with carcasses discovered floating in the Ishasha River, which leads to Lake Edward.
The outbreak, which has also affected buffalo, remains a mystery in terms of its source. The deaths come as a blow to conservation efforts, as the park had worked tirelessly to rebuild its hippo population, which had dwindled to only a few hundred by 2006 due to poaching and conflict.
Virunga Park Director Emmanuel De Merode reported that the bodies began surfacing about five days ago in a river section near the Congo-Uganda border, an area currently controlled by rebel groups.
Anthrax, a deadly bacterial disease, can spread through contaminated soil, water, or plants. The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation has warned locals to avoid wildlife contact and to boil water from local sources.
Efforts to remove and bury the carcasses have been delayed due to difficult terrain and limited resources. Despite these setbacks, the park continues to work on controlling the outbreak and protecting remaining wildlife in the area.
