With over 150 domestic animals suspected to have died of anthrax in the villages surrounding the Similipal tiger reserve within a week, the threat of the dreaded disease spreading to the wildlife in the sanctuary now looms large. According to laxman Marandi, a resident of Balma village, cattle, goats are pigs dying since a month. At least 100 pigs, 20 cows and more than 50 goats have died in the villages surrounding the sanctuary. Diseased domestic animals are being treated in almost all villages in the periphery of the sanctuary. Pigs stop taking food, release blood in their stools and are dead within no time. Most of the animals go to forested areas for grazing.
“We have started vaccination of domestic animals in the villages around the park as a precautionary measure against spread of anthrax,” said veterinarian of Simlipal. In December last year, an elephant had died of anthrax in the Dukura range of the sanctuary. According to Honorary Wildlife Conservator Bhanumitra Acharya, cattle of these villagers stay within the sanctuary for months and turn out to be carriers of the disease and pose a threat to the wildlife in the sanctuary.