Rabies Maasai Mara Campaign

In Kenya, the zoonotic disease Rabies still has a devastating impact on wildlife, livestock, and people. Domesticated dogs, the primary carriers of rabies, spread the disease through their contact with people, their domesticated animals, and the wild animals that live alongside local communities. At least 2,000 people die each year from rabies in Kenya.

This project aims to mitigate the devastating impact of rabies, particularly around Maasai Mara and Laikipia, where rabies outbreaks have severely reduced wild predator populations and disrupted ecosystems in national parks. The solution focuses on the mass vaccination of domestic dogs, which also has direct benefits on the health of local communities.

Eco Clubs of Kenya will vaccinate 3,000 dogs in communities bordering Amboseli National Park and train 400 children and 30 teachers in responsible dog management and rabies prevention. Using a One Health approach, the project aligns with Kenya's national rabies elimination strategy, aiming for zero human deaths from rabies by 2030.

A veterinarian from a 2022 rabies vaccination drive prepares the vaccinations for use.

People and their livestock live side by side with wildlife in areas bordering Amboseli National Park.

Dogs are important to pastoral communities in Kenya because they protect and herd livestock.

Teams from Action for Protection of Animals and Eco Clubs of Kenya are on a mission to eradicate rabies in Kenya. They have previously been involved with two other rabies vaccine drives, and hope to continue the mass vaccination of dogs over the next five years.