FMD fears emerge as two buffalo shot
Chakalisa Dube | Thursday November 3, 2016 18:00
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) office in Francistown issued a press release yesterday warning that elephants and buffaloes were roaming around the villages of Sepako and Tutume.
Elephants are known for destroying properties while buffaloes are often responsible for attacking humans. Buffaloes are also known for spreading FMD and the area around Francistown is the country’s second most prime area for beef exports.
The area was delisted from exports to the European Union (EU) in 2011 after FMD outbreaks and livestock traceability issues, resulting in major losses to local farmers and the national economy.
Principal wildlife officer, Mbututu Mbututu said the department is yet to establish the exact number of buffaloes and elephants spotted in Tutume and Sepako.
“Two buffaloes were identified and killed in the Tutume earlier today (Wednesday). “According to the information I have, they were killed by veterinary officers we are working with,” Mbututu said yesterday in an interview.
He added: “We have dispatched a team of police, wildlife and veterinary officials. They are closely monitoring the situation. We suspect these animals are from the outskirts of Sepako and Zimbabwe area.”
Sepako is 30 kilometres north east of Nata. Buffaloes are very prevalent in Nata and surroundings. Last December, a 50-year-old man was brutally injured by a buffalo at Karikajoo cattlepost near Nata.
Mbututu explained that the animals might have reached Sepako and Tutume in search of water.
Due to their nomadic nature, especially when they are thirsty, the animals could possibly be in other areas outside Tutume and Sepako, according to Mbututu.
“We are only using Tutume and Sepako as reference points. We plead with members of the public in areas near Tutume and Sepako to be on high alert,” he stated.
Mbututu denied reports that an injury has occurred as a result of the roaming buffalo.
“We have been closely monitoring the situation and to the best of my knowledge, no one has been injured since the animals were first spotted in the mentioned areas some time last week,” highlighted Mbututu.
The latest developments could result in government imposing a ban on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals as a way of reining in any possible FMD infection so as to continue satisfying the lucrative EU market.
A similar move was implemented last year when a buffalo was spotted in Kanye, disrupting life for consumers, farmers and supermarkets.