Vaccinate against rabies
This is the time of the year when we begin to look at whether kudus and eland should be vaccinated against rabies.
According to Wildlife Vets Namibia, rabies is a disease with a low morbidity, affecting few animals in a population, but a high mortality rate.
The Namibian rabies situation is unique in that the disease spreads from kudu to kudu and eland to eland and reaches epidemic proportions with devastating effects on these species.
"Nobody knows exactly how rabies amongst kudus starts, but it probably starts with a kudu being bitten by a rabid animal."
Vulnerable
The spread of the disease amongst kudus is likely linked to a higher species' susceptibility and its social behaviour, Wildlife Vets say.
Communal grooming and group feeding from the same bushes are also common.
Wildlife Vets says that as kudus browse on thorn bushes, they frequently sustain small cuts around their mouths and lips. These are ideal sites of infection, as they are situated close to the salivary glands and the brain, where the virus can rapidly replicate.
"When we look at auction and trophy hunting prices, kudus are valuable animals that are worth being looked after. From a trophy hunting perspective, the kudu bull is a wanted animal, but also matures slowly.
"A decline in the kudu population therefore poses a long-term threat to a farmer’s income."
Early precautions
Wildlife Vets stresses that the most effective way of protecting kudus and eland against rabies is to dart vaccinate from a helicopter.
"The time needed for this depends on the farm, the kudu/eland population, and bush density. The more farms that join in on such a vaccination trip, the cheaper the costs will be for all."
Wildlife Vets advise that vaccination should be done before an outbreak hits a farm.
"Emergency vaccinations during an outbreak will usually stop an outbreak within 10 to 14 days following vaccination, but animals that have been infected will die, even after vaccination."
According to Wildlife Vets Namibia, rabies is a disease with a low morbidity, affecting few animals in a population, but a high mortality rate.
The Namibian rabies situation is unique in that the disease spreads from kudu to kudu and eland to eland and reaches epidemic proportions with devastating effects on these species.
"Nobody knows exactly how rabies amongst kudus starts, but it probably starts with a kudu being bitten by a rabid animal."
Vulnerable
The spread of the disease amongst kudus is likely linked to a higher species' susceptibility and its social behaviour, Wildlife Vets say.
Communal grooming and group feeding from the same bushes are also common.
Wildlife Vets says that as kudus browse on thorn bushes, they frequently sustain small cuts around their mouths and lips. These are ideal sites of infection, as they are situated close to the salivary glands and the brain, where the virus can rapidly replicate.
"When we look at auction and trophy hunting prices, kudus are valuable animals that are worth being looked after. From a trophy hunting perspective, the kudu bull is a wanted animal, but also matures slowly.
"A decline in the kudu population therefore poses a long-term threat to a farmer’s income."
Early precautions
Wildlife Vets stresses that the most effective way of protecting kudus and eland against rabies is to dart vaccinate from a helicopter.
"The time needed for this depends on the farm, the kudu/eland population, and bush density. The more farms that join in on such a vaccination trip, the cheaper the costs will be for all."
Wildlife Vets advise that vaccination should be done before an outbreak hits a farm.
"Emergency vaccinations during an outbreak will usually stop an outbreak within 10 to 14 days following vaccination, but animals that have been infected will die, even after vaccination."
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Namibian Sun
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