One Health, One Mission: Cheetah Conservation Fund fighting against rabies to protect wildlife,domestic animals, and communities in Namibia

Abstract

Rabies is a zoonotic disease endemic in Namibia, which affects animals and people worldwide and is fatal if not treated in time. Due to its cross-sectoral implications for human health, animal health, biodiversity, and livelihoods, rabies constitutes a major One Health challenge. Effective control strategies against rabies require a multidisciplinary approach to create awareness, educate the public, vaccinate dogs and cats, and maintain continuous surveillance. To contribute to national and global rabies control efforts, and protect wildlife, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) initiated a mass rabies vaccination campaign in the four eastern communal conservancies of the Greater Waterberg Landscape, Namibia. These efforts aim to reduce rabies transmission at the human–domestic animal– wildlife interface, maintaining the health of domestic carnivores and reducing the risk of disease spreading among people and vulnerable wildlife populations (such as cheetahs, Acinonyx jubatus, and wild dogs, Lycaon pictus). Since 2019 the CCF team has operated in underserved, remote areas, administering over 10,000 rabies vaccinations to dogs and cats over six years. Through concurrent educational efforts CCF has also raised awareness about rabies and other common diseases affecting both domestic and wild animals, such as canine distemper and canine parvovirus. CCF remains committed to continuing this essential work, not only for the safety of wildlife, but for the health and well-being of the people living in these communities. By addressing rabies with a One Health strategy, this approach can support both biodiversity conservation and community resilience.