Recently, two to three elephants died due to effect of anthrax in Keonjhar forest division, particularly in Telkoi region and its adjoining areas.Anthrax is an old and deadly disease. If proper treatment is not given to the patients, it results in death. For man, anthrax is non fatal but it is not so in case of animals. The disease affects skin, kidney, intestines, brain, spinal cord, conjunctive and lymphatic system of the animals. The bacteria responsible for the deadly infection are known as bacillus anthraces. They are capable of forming spores.
The animals are very much susceptible to the disease and meet death. The spores of bacterium of anthrax can survive in soil in favorable conditions and attack animals. The alkaline soils are very favorable for survival of these spores. The spores multiply when they get favorable temperature and moisture. Sal forests of natural origin and of tropical base are now removed for exploitation of mineral, which leads to alkalinity of the soil. Now, all the mining areas of the State are having alkaline soil. The soil contaminates the whole habitats of the herbivores and carnivores.
The writer served more than two decades within the mining hold forest areas of the State but there was no sign anthrax attack within these tracks. The entire class of mammals is now in vulnerable conditions of being attacked by anthrax either in domestic conditions or in forest situation. The species hippopotamus of tropical Africa are also victim of this dreadful anthrax.
The wild carnivores such as lion, hyena and jackal are mostly vulnerable to the disease. Even the rhinoceros, the largest animal of the animal world, is also amenable to anthrax. Climate change aggravates anthrax. Heavy rainfall, flood, draught and bad weather conditions aggravate the epidemic. The animals get affected by anthrax during close grazing of grass and fresh shoots in rainy season. The wild carnivores are also affected by consumption of dead animals affected by anthrax.
The Nandankanan Zoo authorities should be very careful in the wake of fast spreading disease. They need to take preventive measures for the safety of the zoo animals. The preventive measures are more effective than protective and curative practices. The protective as well as curative measures are always not successful. So the authorities of the zoo should rise to the occasion.
The incubation period of anthrax is three to seven days. The victim animals show the sign of fever. Difficulty in breathing and convulsions are some of the symptoms of the disease leading to sudden death of the victim. The general symptoms are discharge of blood from the natural openings of the animals with common malaises including swelling of throats. There are news that the rhinoceros suffered from anthrax in their natural habitat in the eastern part of India and adjoining States.
The preventive strategy is always better through application of annual vaccination of domestic animals in the areas prone to anthrax. Where clinical signs of the disease are noticed, antibiotic treatment is generally recommended. The prompt disposal of dead animals with contaminated materials control scavengers. Observation of general hygiene should be done with utmost carefulness. The annual vaccination of susceptible animals is always better for controlling the outbreak of anthrax within the suspected zone.
The inhalation of spores of the bacterium is highly fatal for both man and animals. The human beings can also acquire intestinal anthrax when contaminated meat is consumed. The mammals in the wild conditions are generally subjected to foot and mouth disease which brings ulcerations of mouth and feet as well. The winter is the period when foot and mouth disease are very common in animals.
Anthrax generally gets transmitted from domestic cattle to wild animals. The villages and forest blocks where unrestricted grazing is allowed, the epidemic spreads very fast. The writer experienced that a large number of bison in Angul and Keonjhar forest divisions had died due to aggravation of anthrax. The wild buffaloes of Kalahandi and Khariar divisions were completely wiped out because of several diseases which took an epidemic proportion. The soil of these forest divisions is purely alkaline.
The ground floor of the tract is almost open and adjoins the forest blocks of undivided Madhya Pradesh. Again due to application of various chemical fertilizers in the agricultural fields and destruction of forest, the ground floor creates room for spread of anthrax. Kalahandi and Khariar and adjoining forests in MP are alkaline.
The formation of natural soil through decomposition of biomass improves the acidity of soil and reduces the alkalinity. The authorities should pay greater emphasis on regeneration of forests in these areas.
Now the elephant population of Oidsha and neighbouring States is passing through a critical period. Death of elephant is almost an everyday phenomenon. The poaching for tusks of the animal and electrocution are very common. Further, habitat and fodder constants, apart from pollution, have caused havoc for the tuskers.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)