Anthrax outbreak forces Botswana to close Chobe game park

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2004

MAUN, Botswana (AFP) — Botswana's wildlife authorities have closed Chobe National Park to tourists after an anthrax outbreak that threatens buffalo and elephants in one of the country's largest game reserves.

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

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

No other animal species have so far died, but nature officials were worried that predators such as lions, vultures, jackals and hyena may feed off the flesh of the dead animals.

"We need time to assess how the disease...