VFWT cracks buffalo death mystery, rescues injured elephant

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust has solved the mystery of a buffalo’s death in the national park, and rescued an injured elephant in a separate incident.

In a statement on their Facebook page, the trust said: “Sometimes, the path to understanding wildlife health takes us to challenging scenarios. A few months ago, we encountered a critical situation at the Victoria Falls National Park when a buffalo was found deceased. Our mission was to uncover the cause and ensure the health of the ecosystem.”

The trust conducted microbiology and haematology tests and discovered that the buffalo died from a bacterial infection, specifically Anaplasma marginale.

“Our diagnosis was that the death was caused by a bacteria, particularly Anaplasma marginale, which is known to infect the red blood cells of some animals, including buffaloes,” the trust said.

In a separate incident, the trust received an urgent call few days ago about a young elephant bull who was suffering from a severe injury caused by a cable snare.

“The elephant was suffering from a severe injury caused by a cable snare, which had cut deep into his right front leg, causing immense pain and distress,” the trust said.

The trust’s rescue team tranquilized the elephant, carefully removed the snare, treated the wounds, and released the elephant back into the wild.

“A huge thank you to Zimparks, Peter De-Clark, and all our dedicated partners for their unwavering support. Your contributions make a world of difference!” the trust said.

The trust’s efforts in disease surveillance and testing have been crucial in safeguarding wildlife health, and their rescue and rehabilitation efforts have made a significant impact on the lives of animals in the national park.