Northern, Western Cape rabbits under threat after mystery disease emerges
Of particular concern is the effect the disease could have on the critically endangered riverine rabbit.
Citizen Reporter
16 Nov 2022
8:54 am
A disease yet to be identified has spread rapidly through the Western and Northern Cape, killing wild hare and rabbit species indiscriminately.
The first death was of a scrub hare in October in the Sutherland area in the Northern Cape, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) reported.
Rapid spread
Since then, the disease, which appears to only affect rabbits and hares, has spread rapidly, as far as Springbok and Fraserburgh more than 500km away, to the Montague-Laingsburg area in the Western Cape.
The most recent deaths of wild hares were reported to EWT in the Merweville and Beaufort West regions. The disease has also affected domestic rabbits in Cape Town and surrounding areas.
Of particular concern is the effect the disease could have on the critically endangered riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis), an elusive species endemic to the central Karoo region.
...
Due to the highly contagious nature of the mysterious disease, members of the public are urged not to handle any rabbit carcasses, as this could spread the disease further.
Any contaminated surfaces and clothing must be washed with bleach.
...
Of particular concern is the effect the disease could have on the critically endangered riverine rabbit.
Citizen Reporter
16 Nov 2022
8:54 am
A disease yet to be identified has spread rapidly through the Western and Northern Cape, killing wild hare and rabbit species indiscriminately.
The first death was of a scrub hare in October in the Sutherland area in the Northern Cape, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) reported.
Rapid spread
Since then, the disease, which appears to only affect rabbits and hares, has spread rapidly, as far as Springbok and Fraserburgh more than 500km away, to the Montague-Laingsburg area in the Western Cape.
The most recent deaths of wild hares were reported to EWT in the Merweville and Beaufort West regions. The disease has also affected domestic rabbits in Cape Town and surrounding areas.
Of particular concern is the effect the disease could have on the critically endangered riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis), an elusive species endemic to the central Karoo region.
...
Due to the highly contagious nature of the mysterious disease, members of the public are urged not to handle any rabbit carcasses, as this could spread the disease further.
Any contaminated surfaces and clothing must be washed with bleach.
...
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