Am ambitious scheme has been launched to counter bovine tuberculosis threatening the buffalo populations in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi complex in KwaZulu Natal.

Behind the scheme, aimed at feeding in TB-free buffalo into the reserves, is the KwaZulu Natal Nature Conservation Board (KZNNCB), Natal Game Ranchers' Association (NGRA) and the Directorate of Veterinary Services KwaZulu Natal (DVSKN).

The KZNNCB's successful management of TB has led to the signing of a contract to supply the NGRA with 100 buffalo a year for the next seven years. This experimental programme is being implemented under the National Directorate of Animal Health's (DAH) strict guidelines for TB testing and is being monitored by the DVSKN.

Should this primary testing of buffalo be successful, the programme will be continued under the strictest conditions for the foreseeable future.

The Phinda Private Game Reserve holding pens have been approved by the DAH and the DVSKN.

A total of 97 buffalo were relocated from the Natal Parks pens to the Phinda during November. In terms of the protocol, all the animals have to undergo three negative TB tests before they are relocated to their respective owners, and are expected to be in quarantine for the next six months.

The buyers of this year's buffalo have registered a company to manage this project. Buffalo Conservation '97 comprises shareholding by each owner equal to their allocation of buffalo.

The buffalo are allocated by the NGRA to respective members, with the first 100 allocated as follows:

• Phinda Private Game Reserve - 30
• Magudu Game Reserve - 25
• Mkuse Falls Game Reserve - 20
• Pongolapoort Biosphere Reserve - 15 and
• Harloo Ranch - 10.

The release of these buffalo to private game farms will provide a number of these units with the big five game viewing experience, as well as providing the ideal opportunity to establish tuberculosis-free buffalo countrywide.