Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit

Category: Dogs, Wildlife | Date: May 17 2007 | By: admin

We would like to thank Anne K. Taylor Fund for their donation of USD 10,000 towards our canine distemper vaccination in the Trans Mara! This amount will be accounted towards the vaccine, syringe, needle, vehicle maintenance/fuel, community liaison. Together with the donation received through Widlifedirect and personal donations from Japan, we are now capable to start the initial stage of CDV ring vaccination along the reserve boundary. We are still looking for funds to cover our operational cost for the vaccination campaign in order for us to work our way closer to the actual outbreak.

We just had a meeting with Mara Conservancy, Anne K. Taylor Fund, Mara Carnivore Conservation Project to discuss the methodology for the operation. We will be starting from the area of Kimintet where the slope of the escarpment is not very steep and animal movements are more frequent, and work our way towards the steeper side of the escarpment towards Tanzania border. The outbreak of the CDV has moved quite rapidly towards the wildlife area in the last one month and now some 25-30 cases are reported in the area 10km from the boundary.

I will be going to Nairobi for couple of days for purchase of vaccine storage fridge and vaccine. We are also planning to meet up with Dr. Sara Cleaveland in the end of June who has done extensive domestic dog vaccination in Serengeti. We hope to coordinate activities of Mara and Serengeti in this meeting.