One Vaccine at a Time: How Animal Health in Our Communities Helps Protect Botswana’s Predators

Botswana Predator Conservation (BPC), a program of Wild Entrust, again partnered in 2025 with the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) to bring veterinary services in several vaccination campaigns to key communities within the Okavango landscape. BPC staff raised more than P50,000 for the 2025 MAWS vaccination program in rural communities from African Bush Camps, Chitabe Camp, Natural Selection, and Bush Ways.  These annual vaccination and sterilization drives are not just about improving the lives of domestic dogs and cats; they’re a vital contribution to conserving endangered species like lions and African wild dogs. 

The link between domestic animal health and the protection of endangered carnivores might not be obvious at first. However, in predator-rich areas like Khwai, Mababe, Sankoyo, and Daunara, domestic dogs live near lions, African wild dogs, and other wild carnivores. If left unvaccinated, and uncontrolled these dogs become carriers of deadly diseases like canine distemper and rabies, which in the past have decimated wild dog and lion populations here and elsewhere in Africa.

That’s why these community clinics matter. By vaccinating and reducing unwanted litters through routine spaying and neutering of domestic dogs and cats, we help create a “buffer zone” that limits the spread of disease to vulnerable wildlife species in Botswana’s world-renowned wildlife management areas. The 5-in-1 vaccination protocol includes protection against rabies as well as distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and parvovirus.

Khwai area (Khwai, Mababe, Sankoyo & Shorobe) April–July 2025: The team delivered vaccinations, deworming treatments, and sterilizations to more than 100 dogs and cats in the four villages in and adjacent to our historical study area. The campaign was successful despite the considerable decline in the number of domestic dogs in villages like Khwai attributed primarily to lion predation – a fact that reflects the challenges faced by communities living alongside large predators and emphasizes the need for continuous coexistence strategies.

Daunara village, June 2025: BPC and MAWS expanded their reach this year to Daunara, a village just outside NG32, where human-wildlife interactions are common. The veterinary team, with support from Daunara Camp, a nearby tourism lodge, worked from the village kgotla and even went door-to-door to ensure no animal was left behind.

MAWS giving an animal care lesson to school children

At Daunara, 31 dogs and cats were vaccinated and treated, and 17 were spayed or neutered to reduce unwanted litters of animals. During this vaccination drive 3 cases of transmissible diseases were diagnosed and promptly treated, with further care provided at the MAWS clinic in Maun. Community members also received veterinary advice, including tips on parasite management and puppy care. The program revealed some important disease issues relevant to BPC’s mission to protect wildlife: as in Khwai, Daonara villagers reported a sharp decline in dog numbers, but in Daonara the dogs were said to be affected by parasites, fly infestations, and possibly canine distemper – a serious health concern for the wildlife in the vicinity.

The Bigger Picture: Human-Wildlife Coexistence Starts with Care

Rehydrating a thirsty puppy.

Our ongoing partnership with MAWS demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary conservationunder the banner of One Health. While BPC continues its frontline research and protection of carnivores like the African wild dog and lion, these vaccination drives bridge the gap between community health and conservation of predators. By caring for the animals that matter to local communities, we’re not only building relationships and strengthening human-wildlife coexistence—we’re also reducing the risk of disease transmission to endangered wildlife. These clinics form part of a preventative conservation initiative grounded in empathy, health, and collaboration.

In the 2nd half of 2025, the team is preparing to visit additional villages Matsaudi and Sexaxa. One thing remains clear: community engagement, veterinary care, and predator conservation are all part of a working solution. Sometimes, the most powerful conservation tool isn’t a radio collar or a camera, it’s a vaccine, administered with care in the name of Coexistence.

As we continue to work with MAWS with a One Health approach, we are grateful to and acknowledge the other supporting and dedicated partners; Natural Selection Conservation Trust, Daunara Camp, Christel Hill, Pride of Africa, and the veterinary volunteers whose efforts make this work possible. As they say, 'it takes a village'.