World

Authorities close Chobe National Park after anthrax outbreak

September 21, 2004 Edition 1

Maun: Botswana's wildlife authorities have closed Chobe National Park to tourists after an anthrax outbreak threatening buffalo and elephant, a spokesman said yesterday.

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

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

Officials were worried that predators such as lions, vultures, jackals and hyenas may feed off the dead animals.

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

Because of its abundant wildlife, Chobe National Park is a major draw in Botswana for tourists interested in game viewing. 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 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 R673 million in revenue

to the arid southern African country.

Anthrax has broken out before in the Chobe National Park, most recently in 1996. That attack was attributed to buffalo straying in from Namibia. - Sapa-AFP

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