How supporting rangers and capacitating them to screen for disease, poisoning and poaching assisted in diagnosing a novel disease in African elephant

Snapshot Solution
Wildlife Crime Scene Training of Rangers
VFWT

Zimbabwe and its neighboring countries have the largest African Savanna elephant population in the world.  Some areas have a plethora of animals and these high densities are concern for diseases, poisoning and poaching.  VFWT worked with conservation partners to train ZimParks rangers in North West Zimbabwe on differentiating elephant mortality events to determine natural disease incidents vs. wildlife crime scenes, and how to secure and document a crime scene.  This all came to fruition when there started to be a number of elephant mortality events in the region.  Through investigation and collection of samples, that were subsequently analyzed in the laboratory a novel disease  Bicaard taxon 45 was discovered to be the cause of the mortality event.  The disease had not been found in African elephant previously, and as a close relation to Pasturella multocida, was cause for concern as to how the disease would affect elephant species.  

Last update: 14 May 2025
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Context
Challenges addressed
Drought
Land and Forest degradation
Loss of Biodiversity
Scale of implementation
Local
Subnational
Ecosystems
Temperate grassland, savanna, shrubland
Theme
Species management
Disaster risk reduction
Connectivity / transboundary conservation
One Health
Science and research
World Heritage
Location
Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe
East and South Africa
Impacts
  • 40 Rangers were trained on Wildlife Diseases, Poisonings, and Crime Scene Investigation Awareness during the project
  • 37 elephant mortalities were assessed for disease in North West Zimbabwe
  • Kavango Zambesi TFCA Disease and Sampling guide published for vets, paravets, and animal health officers 
  • 91 ranger livelihoods sustained throughout the project 
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 – Good health and well-being
SDG 15 – Life on land
Connect with contributors
Other contributors
Chris Foggin
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
Laura Rosen
KAZA Animal Health Sub-Working Group
Other Organizations