An anthrax outbreak has killed 28 hippopotamuses in the Semuliki River ecosystem, raising concerns about wildlife conservation and public health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Laboratory tests confirmed the bacterial infection after carcasses began appearing in September, west of Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park. The disease can spread to humans through contact with infected or dead animals, or by consuming contaminated meat. Park authorities are monitoring the affected area, coordinating the safe disposal of carcasses and warning residents not to touch, skin or eat animals found dead. The outbreak is unfolding against a backdrop of drought, armed conflict and an ongoing Ebola crisis. Scientists warn that shrinking water sources can concentrate animals and increase exposure to contaminated soil, while insecurity makes wildlife monitoring more difficult. A previous anthrax outbreak killed 65 hippos in 2025. The latest deaths highlight the close links between ecosystem health, conservation and community safety.