Tests from kudu showing lameness in Addo Elephant National Park were negative for foot-and-mouth disease, but the investigation is a reminder that wildlife biosecurity cannot begin only after an outbreak.
Routine surveillance, transparent reporting and sensible preventive steps protect wildlife, neighboring livestock and public confidence. Measures such as vehicle spraying create operational burdens, yet early detection and containment are far less costly than responding after disease spreads.
Source: South African National Parks