By Masoka Dube
Skukuza - Residents living around the Kruger National Parks have been warned not to eat any buffalo meat that has not been checked for Bovine Tuberculosis (TB).
Kruger spokesman William Mabasa confirmed that there were buffalo that escape the Kruger and wandered into communities, but warned that some could be infected with TB.
“When buffalo are killed outside the Kruger, it should be done under supervision of state veterinary services, and they would normally inspect the carcass and remove infected organs if signs of TB are present or condemn the carcass outright,” said Mabasa.
Mabasa warned residents not to poach animals, but added that some buffalo get killed when they escape into various communities around the Kruger.
“Sometimes buffalo do get killed by communities with state vets’ supervision. If they only eat the meat/liver/kidneys and intestines the risk of getting TB is very small -- the disease is mostly manifested in the lungs and lymph nodes of the head and thorax. Removing these will prevent transmission of TB.
“Badly infected buffalo obviously pose a threat to humans when consuming organs (not meat) infected by the bacterium. Cooking does help reduce the risk of transmission,” he said.
Mabasa said it was the responsibility of state veterinarians to ensure that diseased meat is not eaten.
“The state veterinary department is responsible for destroying buffalo that leave the Kruger. No buffalo meat can leave the red zone (foot & mouth disease area). The fence around Kruger is also the responsibility of the state vets,” he said.
He added that South African law states that land owners are responsible for wild animals found on their land.
“In other words, Kruger lions in the Kruger are the responsibility of the South African National Parks (SANParks). Lions found in any of the communities outside the Park are the responsibility of either the Limpopo or Mpumalanga provincial governments.
“We can only act if provincial government authorities request our help. SANParks does play a role in communicating some of the legislative levels and risks when eating uncooked meat from any wildlife,” said Mabasa.
Mabasa said Kruger officials regularly engage with community park forums to educate or discuss issues of interest, such as the consumption of wild animals that escape the park.
There were other species that have also been recorded with TB, including cheetah, leopard, badger, kudu, bushbuck and spotted hyena.
"The incidence in these species is very low and does not represent a serious risk due to the very low incidence in these species," Mabasa said.
Vusi Mavunda, a resident of Casteel near Bushbuckridge, said he was not aware that some animals in the park were suffering from TB.
"I normally eat every meat of animals that escape the park. I was totally unaware of the things you are telling me about," he said.
According to Mabasa, buffaloes presumably became infected with TB when they came into contact with TB-infected cattle in the mid-1950s, but were only first diagnosed in 1990.
“TB is present in almost every country of the world and the bovine species of TB is actually reasonably well controlled amongst domestic cattle – other countries with fewer resources face much larger challenges in controlling the disease in people,” Mabasa said. – SAnews.gov.za
