Anthrax Outbreak Claims Lives of 50 Hippos in Virunga National Park

In a tragic incident, at least 50 hippos have died from anthrax in DR Congo's Virunga National Park, with park officials scrambling to contain the outbreak and secure the area against further ecological destabilization.

At least 50 hippos and various large animals have succumbed to anthrax poisoning in Virunga National Park, the oldest national park in Africa, according to its director. Virunga Park officials shared heartbreaking photos of these hippos lifelessly drifting along the Ishasha River, which runs through the park. This distressing discovery began last week, and while the specific cause of the outbreak remains unclear, tests have confirmed anthrax's presence.

Emmanuel de Merode, the park's director, stated that efforts to recover and bury the deceased animals were underway to prevent further contamination. However, logistical challenges hindered their response, particularly the lack of excavators to handle the task. "It's a struggle due to access and logistics," he remarked to Reuters. The authorities have proposed using caustic soda to accelerate the decomposition of the bodies placed in designated burial sites.

The Ishasha River feeds into Lake Edward, a significant body of water in Africa, and reports indicate more deceased animals have been found in the vicinity, raising alarms about potential contamination of local water supplies. Consequently, the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature has advised local residents to steer clear of wildlife and to boil water from nearby sources before consumption.

Covering 7,800 square kilometers (3,000 square miles), Virunga National Park is lauded for its rich biodiversity, yet it remains perilous due to ongoing conflicts involving various armed groups vying for control of the region’s abundant natural resources. Over the years, park rangers have made significant sacrifices, with many losing their lives to safeguard wildlife from poachers and rebel groups amid the chaos that has engulfed the park and surrounding areas.

Efforts to bolster the hippo population in Virunga have been ongoing, given its decline from over 20,000 to just a few hundred due to poaching and conflict. The impact of this anthrax outbreak adds another layer of complexity to the already dangerous balance of conservation efforts in the area.