Global News - July 2008

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Bovine TB shown to be infecting rare wildlife in Spain

Thu 24 July 2008 14:00 UK — Europe,Big Cats

New research has suggested that rare animals in a protected area of Spain are falling victim to bovine tuberculosis (TB).

A team from the University of Castilla investigated rates of TB in wild boar, red deer and fallow deer in the Donana National Park in the south of the country.

They explained that commercial hunting and artificial wildlife feeding were banned in the park.

Despite the fact that traditional cattle husbandry is still practiced and that there are regular TB tests and culls among the cows in the area, the report noted that infection rates were still rising.

Worryingly, there have been reports that highly-endangered Iberian lynx have died as a result of infection.

In the new study, the team found that 52 per cent of wild boar, 27 per cent of red deer and 18 per cent of fallow deer were infected with bovine TB.

These figures are some of the highest reported in wildlife. The team said this was odd as the ban on wildlife feeding should have reduced infection.

They added that the figures suggest that bovine TB might have significant effects on wild animal welfare and conservation.

Studies in 2005 warned that fewer than 100 Iberian lynx survive in the wild. Some believe that should the species become extinct, it would be the first big cat to do so since the sabre-toothed tiger died out around 10,000 years ago.

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