An anthrax outbreak has tragically resulted in the deaths of approximately 50 hippopotamuses in Virunga National Park, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern region, park officials confirmed Tuesday.
The hippos were discovered floating in a river south of Lake Edward, which forms the border between the DRC and Uganda.
Park director Emmanuel de Merode attributed the deaths to anthrax, a disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. This bacterium can persist in soil for extended periods, posing a risk to both animals and humans, particularly through inhalation.
The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), which oversees national parks in the DRC, has issued warnings to local populations, advising them to avoid consuming bushmeat due to the potential for anthrax transmission.
Virunga National Park, established in 1925, is a renowned wildlife sanctuary, famous for its mountain gorillas and scenic landscapes. However, it is also situated in an area plagued by decades of conflict.
This is not the first time hippos and other mammals in Virunga and other African nature reserves have succumbed to anthrax. The disease has posed a recurring threat to the region’s wildlife.
