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How have vaccine-laden baits been used to control rabies in wild carnivores?
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carnivore
Adult snow leopards (Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia) can grow to a length of about 2.1 meters (7 feet) from head to tail and weigh 23–41 kg (50–90 pounds).
To control the spread of rabies among wild carnivores, particularly in species like the red fox, health authorities utilize vaccine-laden baits. These baits are distributed across affected areas, sometimes by dropping them from the air, to ensure that wild populations consume the vaccine and develop immunity.1
This method is a critical component of disease management, as it helps reduce the prevalence of the virus in vector species that might otherwise transmit the fatal disease to other animals or humans through bites. By proactively immunizing these populations, countries can mitigate the public health risks associated with rabies without relying solely on culling or individual capture-vaccinate-release programs.21