In the
News...
June 2005
The World Conservation
This month's stories:
Ugandan Anthrax Hippos Poisoned?
Claims are emerging from Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda that many of the hippo carcasses buried following an anthrax outbreak had no teeth. Such claims are raising accusations that at least some of the hippos may have been poisoned.
Sources indicate that a
Japanese trader, based in Dubai, UAE, could have fueled the alleged
killings due to his interest in acquiring five tons of hippo teeth.
Hippo teeth are used as an alternative to elephant ivory and are in
high demand in Asia for use in making bangles, bracelets and necklaces.
However, Moses Mapesa, the
acting executive director of the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA),
said, "We know for sure that the hippos died of anthrax...The teeth
from the hippos were contaminated with bacteria and there is no way we
can allow anybody to deal in such trophies."
The Head of the National Task Force for fighting anthrax, Nicholas Kauta stated, "It is very dangerous for one to extract teeth from a hippo that has died of anthrax because the disease will definitely kill him or her." Kauta however did not rule out the possibility that some of the hippos were poisoned because some of the carcasses were not tested.
During the time
that the anthrax outbreak was killing the hippos, several wildlife
traders were reportedly visiting the park. Gerald Tenywa, a reporter
for the New Vision of Kampala, disguised as a trader, reported that
fishermen told him that they could collect the teeth in about a week
because they were scattered in various fishing villages. They said the
largest stocks were in Katungulu and Kasenyi on the fringes of Lake
George, within the park.
About 300
hippos reportedly died of anthrax since mid-last year but the deaths
had stopped in March.
Sources: Tenywa, G. of
New Vision (online) and Xinhaunet - 20 April 2005
06-07-05
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