"The Disease-Free Buffalo Breeding Project of the State Veterinary Services and South African National Parks"

Markus Hofmeyr

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is one of the more important wildlife species, ecologically and economically, in Africa. It occurred historically in large herds throughout South Africa, and played an important ecological role as a bulk grazer. Extensive over-hunting, the rinderpest epidemic of the late 19th century and lately, its role as a carrier of economically important diseases, has restricted the range and resurgence of this species back into its former habitat in South Africa.

The Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Services in the Kruger National Park has done extensive studies on the dynamics and epidemiology of the economically important diseases carried by buffalo such as: foot and mouth disease, corridor disease (Theileriosis), bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis. This research has allowed the innovative “disease-free” buffalo-breeding project to be initiated by the Veterinary staff of South African National Parks (SANParks) in the Kruger National Park. The driving force for this project is SANParks’ need to re-introduce buffalo into newly established national parks within its former range.

This presentation describes how, through collaboration between the State Veterinary Services and SANParks, a breeding project has been developed that rids buffalo of the economically important diseases (foot and mouth disease, corridor disease, bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis) so that re-introduction into former range can be undertaken without risk to neighbouring farming communities.