Anthrax Outbreak Kills Over 50 Hippos in Congo’s Virunga National Park
At least 50 hippos and other large animals have died from anthrax poisoning in Virunga National Park, located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The animals were found floating along the Ishasha River, which flows into Lake Edward. Park director Emmanuel de Merode confirmed the cause as anthrax and said the team is working to retrieve and bury the carcasses using caustic soda to contain the spread. “It’s difficult due to lack of access and logistics,” he said, noting they have no excavators.
Anthrax, a deadly disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, can survive in soil for decades and poses a risk not just to wildlife but also to humans and domestic animals. Locals have been warned by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation to avoid contact with wildlife and boil water before drinking. The park has also advised against eating bushmeat. Some hippo corpses have been spotted floating further north in Lake Edward, raising fears that the disease could spread downstream.
Once home to nearly 30,000 hippos, Virunga's population was devastated by decades of conflict and poaching, dropping by 95% by the mid-2000s. Recent conservation efforts had increased the number to around 1,200 before this outbreak. Virunga, known for its biodiversity and endangered mountain gorillas, remains one of the most dangerous parks in Africa due to ongoing militia activity in the region.
