Anthrax outbreak in Africa's oldest national park kills dozens of hippos, officials say

Anthrax has killed dozens of hippos in Virunga National Park, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s oldest protected area. Officials confirmed the bacterial outbreak after field teams discovered multiple carcasses along the park’s riverbanks. The New York Times described the event as a rapid loss of a key herbivore population within the park’s ecosystem.

The deaths were first reported early Friday, prompting an emergency response from park rangers and wildlife veterinarians. Business Insider Africa noted that the anthrax incident adds another deadly bacterial disease to the country’s list of crises. Park authorities have begun quarantine measures for nearby animal groups and are coordinating with the World Organisation for Animal Health to contain further spread.

The New York Times reported that researchers are monitoring the impact on the park’s water-dependent ecosystems while awaiting laboratory confirmation of the anthrax strain. No further outbreaks have been reported, and wildlife teams continue surveillance to prevent additional animal losses.