Ukerewe Island is a small island located in Lake Victoria, just a short 2 hour ferry ride north of Mwanza, Tanzania. It is a very rural area, accessible only by boat. The island is home to mainly subsistence farmers and fishermen of the Kurewe, Jita, and Kara tribes. The island has also become a refuge for individuals with albinism.
Lake Zone Animal Welfare Organization (Lazawo), with the help of Network for Animals, made our first trip out to Ukerewe Island in 2024 to respond to a rabies outbreak. While much of the world only hears about rabies when an occasional rabid bat or racoon makes the news – those living in Tanzania live with the very real fear of rabies every day. This disease is 100% fatal if not treated immediately. Sadly, those living in remote villages rarely are able to seek proper treatment in time. Rabies is not kind to its victims: progressive inflammation of the brain and spinal cord leads to severe neurological symptoms including uncontrolled drooling, seizures, coma, and finally death. Sadly, the majority of victims of rabies are children as they are the ones often interacting with village dogs.
Lazawo vaccinated over 5,000 dogs during our 2024 campaign. We also sterilized over 70 dogs. The response from local villagers was huge: They begged us to come back to vaccinate, spay, and neuter more dogs!
In 2025, Network for Animals – with the help of a private donor – supported Lazawo’s team of 8 vets in returning to Ukerewe Island again in February, and then again in May. Our team spread out across the island in teams of 2 to vaccinate and sterilize as many dogs as possible. With the help of local para-vets and government officials, our team was able to spay & neuter 595 dogs and vaccinate 5,806 against rabies!
Just over 50% of the estimated dog population on Ukerewe Island has now been reached with the rabies vaccine. With a 3rd trip planned this summer thanks to additional Network for Animal funds – we plan on surpassing the 70% threshold needed to declare Ukerewe Island free of rabies!!! By both decreasing the dog population on the island while at the same time increasing dogs vaccinated – rabies will be eradicated from the island. This is a story of huge success, showing how international organizations can work together to make a real difference.
THANK YOU NETWORK FOR ANIMALS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN MAKING UKEREWE ISLAND RABIES FREE!!!
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