More than 165 animals in Mana Pools National Park in the lower Zambezi Valley have died due to an anthrax outbreak over the past few weeks. Parks and Wildlife Management Authority public relations manager Ms Caroline Washaya-Moyo confirmed the death of elephants, hippos, buffaloes and kudus. The most affected are Chikwenya and Sapi areas, which are located on the shoreline as well as islands near Mana Pools. "Our Chinhoyi office has since confirmed the anthrax outbreak following the death of the animals in Mana Pools. "The Authority engaged the Vet Offices who later collected samples from hippos for lab testing. The lab test confirmed that 88 hippopotamus died of anthrax," said Ms Washaya-Moyo. The cause of the death of 45 Buffaloes, 30 elephants and two Kudus, she said, was yet to be established but starvation or anthrax was suspected. Ms Washaya-Moyo said the situation was under control. A veterinary officer in the Department of Veterinary Services (Wildlife), Dr Chris Foggin also confirmed the outbreak. "A number of animals have died, but we have visited the area and we sealed it off and we are burning the carcasses to prevent any further spread, an action well considered now that the lab reports confirmed anthrax as the culprit," said Dr Foggin.
- RSOE EDIS
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