Africa·DR Congo
Anthrax kills 28 hippos in Africa's oldest national park as Congo fights Ebola
VITSHUMBI, DR CONGO —
Depth
Dig five layers into this story — from what happened to the full picture.
L1What happened
Resident Michael Kambale: "It was in mid-September that we began to notice the mass deaths of hippos in the Semuliki River." The park confirmed Bacillus anthracis and said 28 hippos died over approximately one month.
L2Who’s affected
Riverside communities such as the Vitshumbi enclave, about 100 kilometres north of Goma, who are being told not to touch, skin or consume dead animals; and the park's hippo population, estimated at more than 2,700 in 171 groups in February 2026.
L3Why it’s quiet
Analysis · OVERLOOKED Wildlife disease in a conflict zone is overshadowed by Congo's Ebola outbreak and, in the U.S., by midterm week.
L4Deeper impact
Ecologist Joel Mbusa Mapoli says hippos are "ecosystem engineers" and their loss "could lead to a major disruption of aquatic ecosystems." He calls for a One Health response linking human, animal and environmental health, with stronger surveillance and carcass management. The park says it has lost control of a significant part of its territory over four years due to fighting between the army and M23.
L5Full context
Anthrax spores can survive for decades in soil. Park officials say outbreaks have previously hit hippos during droughts, when animals crowd around scarce water and grazing. A 2025 outbreak killed 65 hippos. Activist Olivier Ndoole Bahemuke says nearly three decades of conflict have fuelled poaching and deforestation. Virunga, founded in 1925, is Africa's oldest national park.
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Original reporting
This is an OVERLOOKED summary of the reporting above. Facts and figures come from the linked sources. Everything here is a fact unless it is labelled otherwise. Support this work.
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