Novartis / SAVF Wildlife Research Fund

Fund for Wildlife Research to Assist Wildlife Conservation

Novartis Animal Health in co-operation with the South African Veterinary Foundation launched the Novartis/SAVF Wildlife Research Fund in 2001. According to Dr Henk Basson, chairman of the SAVF at that stage, we cannot underestimate the role that South Africa's wildlife has to play in the economy, by attracting tourism and the creation of jobs. Any threat to wildlife becomes a threat to the heartbeat of the nation. Effective management of wildlife resources is a vital aspect of conservation in Southern Africa. Initiatives from the business sector are essential to help meet the needs of conservation concerns. The fund will thus be playing a key role in the future wildlife management. Approved research projects to help achieve this will be eligible for sponsorship by this research fund with projects supported focused primarily, but not exclusively, on veterinary issues.

The concept of "animal health" in South Africa extends to include the wildlife that forms a part of the country's prime natural resources. Many wildlife species are under constant threat from poaching, drought and degradation of habitat and their only hope of continued survival is translocation to secure environments where, under the protection of recognised nature reserves or through breeding programmes, their future may be assured.

Immobilisation drugs have a strategic role to play, not only in relocation programmes, but in the on-going veterinary care and monitoring of our wildlife population. Novartis Animal Health is the manufacturer and sub- Saharan African distributor of animal immobilisation and revival drugs, M99 and M5050. M99 (etorphine) is a potent narcotic analgesic and a strategic product in wildlife management. M5050 (diprenorphine) effectively reverses the immobilisation effect of M99. Both products have an established track record amongst veterinarians in sub-Saharan Africa, and have a wide application for various species of wild animals, including antelope, rhino, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and others. The contributions from Novartis Animal Health will be up to R100 000 per annum. In the first year the SAVF matched the Novartis contribution rand for rand to build up a reserve of R500 000. The interest will be used to fund approved research projects. The Novartis contribution will be funded mainly from a donation of a percentage of the profit of M99 and M5050 sales. Supply is restricted to veterinarians via certain veterinary wholesalers who have all have signed agreements that M99 and M5050 will only be sold to veterinarians. Additionally, profit from the sales of a new manual "Veterinary Care of African Elephants" the publication of which has been sponsored by Novartis Animal Health and is marketed by them, will also be donated to the fund.

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