Côte d’Ivoire strengthens wildlife disease surveillance at Banco National Park

Côte d’Ivoire has strengthened cooperation on wildlife health surveillance with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Directorate of Veterinary Services and Animal Welfare (DSVBA) and the Ivorian Office of Parks and Reserves (OIPR).

The agreement was officially signed on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Banco National Park. The ceremony was chaired by Sidi Tiémoko Touré, Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries, and Abou Bamba, Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition.

The memorandum aims to establish an effective system for preventing and managing zoonotic and epidemiological risks in Côte d’Ivoire.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will strengthen health surveillance across the country’s national parks and reserves, improve the transmission of epidemiological data between field officers and veterinarians, and train OIPR personnel to detect diseases at an early stage.

They will also pool human, logistical and financial resources to improve the country’s capacity to monitor and respond to health threats affecting wildlife.

Minister Abou Bamba stressed that protecting wildlife is closely linked to public health, the preservation of Côte d’Ivoire’s natural heritage and food security. He described the memorandum as a “living instrument” that can serve as a lasting safeguard against epidemiological threats for present and future generations.

For his part, Minister Sidi Tiémoko Touré reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the country against emerging health risks while preserving biodiversity.

He also commended the technical teams from the DSVBA, OIPR and the project supporting the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance of veterinary health hazards, and called for a dynamic and exemplary partnership capable of delivering concrete results for human, animal and environmental health.