Wildlife meets wellness: Students explore One Health approach in Namibia

Wildlife meets wellness: Students explore One Health approach in Namibia

Friday, December 13, 2024

Media Contact: Sophia Fahleson | Digital Communications Specialist | 405-744-7063 | [email protected]

As the sun falls over the Namibian sky, the horizon is painted with an array of colors. Various animals meander around a small watering hole as 14 Ferguson College of Agriculture students observe from afar.

The college needed a study-abroad course to Africa, said Karl Rich, director of the Master of International Agriculture Program at Oklahoma State University.

"There hadn't been a course to Africa offered since the COVID-19 pandemic," Rich said. "There also was the need to bring back a One Health-related course, so we wanted to fill both gaps."

Since 2001, Rich has traveled to Namibia for projects and trips, so he had several connections there, he said. His colleague and co-leader of the course, Bruce Noden, a professor in the OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, lived in Namibia for three years as a faculty member at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. Together, the two created a one-of-a-kind itinerary focused on One Health as applied in Namibia, Rich said.

One Health looks at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health with a focus on how the different areas interact with each other, Rich said.

The duo focused on creating a personable experience that allowed students to see and encounter as many new things as possible, Noden said.

"We focused on safety and experiences," Noden said. "It is important for us to taste, smell, see, feel and touch new things. This was something we considered as we planned all the destinations for our course."

During the 14-day trip to Africa, the group traveled across the country in two vans and a car. Namibia is a large country, and the cities are spread out, so driving is the best way to travel, Noden said.

"It was the ultimate sub-Saharan road trip," Rich said. "We traveled over 1,500 miles across the country during our short time there."

Namibia is a less-developed country, so many roads were unpaved and bumpy, said Rhiannon Curley, master of international agriculture student and graduate assistant for the course.

"Driving the van was a little terrifying at first," Curley said. "I had to learn how to drive on the other side of the road and watch for animals crossing. At one point, we almost got into an accident with a donkey!"

In northern Namibia, livestock freely roam, unlike the more enclosed environments typically found in the United States. This different method of raising livestock allowed students to evaluate disease management and prevention between livestock and wildlife through the One Health approach, Rich said.

"It is interesting to think about how environmental, human and animal health all interact and impact each other," Curley said. "You can't just isolate them."

During the first few days of the course, the students spent time learning about One Health in Namibia. After gaining a basic understanding, they visited parts of the country where they could experience the methods being put into action, Noden said.

"I love agriculture, but I was curious to see how agricultural practices consider factors like wildlife," said Tessa Tronzano, animal science senior.

During the course, the group spent three days in Etosha National Park.

"One of the most memorable parts of the trip was during an afternoon at a watering hole in the national park," Tronzano said. "We had been watching the animals at the watering hole for a few hours, so we were about to get up and leave for the day.

"As we started to stand up, an elephant came, so we decided to stay a little longer," Tronzano added. "Five minutes later, a whole herd of elephants were gathered around the watering hole running and playing, including a baby and its mom."

The national park is home to native wildlife, but this situation also raises concerns about disease management, Noden said.

Etosha National Park has a fence surrounding the 5.5-million-acre property that divides the country into two sections and keeps the wildlife separated from livestock. While the fence has fulfilled its mission of disease prevention, it creates vast differences in the health of animals and infrastructure, Rich said.

The northern part of Namibia and several neighboring countries suffer with foot-and-mouth disease in their livestock, he added.

Foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious virus, can be catastrophic to a herd, Noden said. Beef is critical to the Namibian economy, so if an outbreak were to occur, it would be disastrous, he added.

To ensure disease prevention efforts are implemented, the national park has controlled entrances and exits. All vehicles are stopped and inspected to guarantee no animals or meat products are brought from one side to the other, Tronzano said.

Despite the different practices used to raise livestock in Namibia, the goal of raising healthy animals remains the same, Tronzano said. Namibians have less advanced technology than the United States, but they still use accurate records to ensure all animals are healthy, Tronzano added.

Accurate records document annual vaccines and the purchasing and selling of animals.

"Namibians pride themselves in their ability to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease," Tronzano said. "Namibia continues to remain one of Africa's largest beef exporters due to these efforts."

Most students in the course knew about the importance of disease management and traceability but deepened their understanding as they evaluated situations from a more holistic, One Health approach, Rich said.

The group visited the University of Namibia School of Veterinary Medicine in Windhoek, Namibia.

The facility was not as technologically advanced as veterinary medicine schools found in the United States, yet students were still doing similar cutting-edge research, Tronzano said.

"The unique part of studying abroad is showing students the parallels between countries," Rich said.

Namibia has managed the challenge of foot-and-mouth disease by using the One Health approach and thinking critically about the way everything interacts with and impacts each other, Tronzano said.

"The main thing I learned on this course was how to adapt and think critically," Tronzano said. "Comparing the similarities and differences between Namibia and the United States brought new insight into the way I think about things."

Studying abroad allows students to gain a new perspective, Noden said. Not only do the courses allow students to step outside of the classroom and gain hands-on experiences, but also the experience gives them the opportunity to learn and embrace other cultures, Noden added.

"Just because it isn't what we are used to doesn't mean it's bad," Curley said. "Reflecting back on the fact that our differences aren't bad has changed the way I think about things."

Story by Ainsley Treesh | Cowboy Journal

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