This comes just after anthrax claimed a 10-year-old tusker in the Thalavadi range of Sathyamangalam forest, on the border of the Biligiriranganathaswamy (BRT) Tiger Reserve. Ten days after the death of the cattle, despite assurances by the state government that the threat has been contained; senior officials remain worried about the occurrence, and have been vaccinating and monitoring livestock in the region. Of special concern are the swathes of forests that form the Nagarahole, Bandipur and BRT Tiger Reserves and their inhabitants, although no wildlife deaths due to anthrax have been reported since.
Dr. Sundar Raju, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Chamarajnagar, told the Times of India, “The fear started to lurk following the death of a 10-year-old tusker due to anthrax in Thalavadi range in Sathyamangalam forest bordering BRT Tiger Reserve in early November. What is perplexing is that the disease has killed cattle at Bheemana Bidu on the Mysore-Sultan-Bathery road. Bheemana Bidu is located eight kilometres from Bandipur forest. After it was established that anthrax was the reason for the death of cattle, we've vaccinated over 700 cattle and 450 sheep in the affected region. The disease is now contained and there are no reports of death of livestock due to anthrax."
The anthrax bacterium Bacillus anthracis can survive in a state of dormancy for up to two years before becoming active - a fact that has prompted vigilance among nearby locals, who have been warned not to consume cattle or sheep meat, and are being kept under surveillance along with the wild inhabitants of the affected areas.
Source: Sanctuary Asia.
