Nature Vanguards has teamed up with Action for Protection of Animals Africa (APAA) and Eco Clubs of Kenya to address the issue of rabies in Kenya, a disease which can have devastating impacts on people, domesticated dogs and wildlife.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease carried primarily by domesticated dogs, and kills 2,000 people annually in Kenya. Pastoral communities like the Maasai, Samburu, Turkana, and the Borana, who live around wildlife national parks and reserves, are particularly affected - dogs are an integral part of their herding systems, providing early warning to herders about approaching cattle rustlers, predator wildcats (lions and leopards) and wild dogs (hyenas) from the surrounding national parks.

Herding dogs are the first victims of bites from rabid predators, especially hyenas, when protecting livestock from attacks. This begins a vicious cycle of infection, with rabid dogs passing on the diseases to livestock, local communities (especially children, who play with their dogs) and other wildlife such as big cats. In 2013, for example, a rabies outbreak in Maasai Mara national park in Narok County and wildlife conservancies in Laikipia County killed entire lion prides, hyena packs, and other wild cats like leopards, leading to an ecological imbalance and biodiversity emergency that saw the herbivore population explode.

To eradicate rabies, we need to stop domestic dogs from getting the disease. This is done through a simple strategy of vaccinating over 70% of the dog population consecutively over 3-6 years until there is no new rabies case.

Eco Clubs of Kenya is a community organisation based in Kajiado County, Kenya, and works closely with local communities to prevent and control rabies by vaccinating dogs, cats, and livestock. It also raises awareness of the disease and promotes responsible dog population management and dog ownership. For this project, they intend to vaccinate 3,000 domesticated dogs in locations bordering the Amboseli national park over three months, and educate 400 children on dog bite management and dog care. We at Nature Vanguards are committed to supporting this important initiative, in the hopes that rabies can be eradicated in Kenya.