rabies, small mammals, laikipia rabies vaccine campaign, research, endangered species, education, live chat, carnivores, adam ferguson, zorrilla, genet, mongoose, skunks, human animal conflict

Mpala Live! viewers joined Adam Ferguson March 23rd and learned about small mammals and the Laikipia (Kenya) Rabies Vaccine Campaign.

Adam studies carnivores under 15 kg. He also leads the Laikipia Rabies Vaccination Campaign (LRVC) group-effort aimed at eradicating rabies in domestic dogs in the local communities around Mpala.

In Adam's words: Rural communities, especially children, are at greatest risk of dog-mediated rabies in Kenya, where an estimated 2,000 people die of this disease every year, and yet these communities often receive the least attention when it comes to rabies control efforts. Through the LRVC we help to provide no-cost vaccinations of domestic dogs, the major reservoirs for human rabies cases in Kenya, to people with little or no access to rabies prevention measures, thereby protecting both the lives of the people and their canine companions that compose such an integral part of their pastoral culture.

You'll also learn about mongoose, genets, and the unusually fragrant zorrilla.