Anthrax closes Chobe

2004-09-20 22:06

Maun - Botswana's wildlife authorities have closed Chobe national park to tourists after an anthrax outbreak that threatens buffalo and elephants in one of the country's largest game reserves, a spokesperson said on Monday.

By Friday, game rangers had found the carcasses of 68 buffalo and one elephant in the park, which borders Namibia, said wildlife and national parks acting district co-ordinator Obert Gwapela.

"We have communicated with tour operators that they should stop taking tourists into the park until we contain the disease," he said.

No other animal species have so far died, but nature officials were worried that predators such as lions, vultures, jackals and hyena may feed off the flesh of the dead animals.

"We need time to assess how the disease is spreading and how it can be contained," Gwapela told AFP.

Chobe national park is a major tourism draw in Botswana, luring tourists interested in game viewing because of its abundant wildlife including elephants, buffalo and lions.

It also boasts most of the country's safari camps.

Wildlife authorities are trying to nail down the origin of the acute infectious bacterial disease, which mainly affects wild and domestic animals, but can also pose a risk to humans exposed to infected animals or their tissue.

Gwapela stressed, however, that there was no danger to humans.

"It is too early to say when the park may be opened as our teams are currently on the ground assessing the situation," Gwapela added.

Annually, tourism brings in about $104m in revenue to the arid southern African country.

- SAPA