Tsetse War

On the rim of northern Zululand's subtropical bush, an army of hunters stood poised for the greatest game hunt in South African history. This week, at a signal from Scientist Gilles De Kock, they would raise their guns and assagais (spears), and plunge into the jungle. Quarry: the tsetse fly.

The tsetse, carrier of dreaded, parasitic African sleeping sickness, which kills men and cattle alike, has for generations been Africa's great curse. The parasite comes mostly from wild animals. Despite all the South African Government's efforts, including the slaughter of more than 65,000 jungle animals in the last four years, the tsetse has been gaining.

This week's offensive, the start of a five-year war, rests on a brand-new plan of attack. Its fundamental premise is that the tsetse does not fly far.

As a starter, Dr. De Kock & Co. plan to drive every last wild animal in a 400-square-mile area -- kudu, wildebeests, wart hogs, hyenas, zebras, duikers, baboons, storks, vultures, rats -- into a small game reserve deep in the forest. They will not be slaughtered, though many surely will be killed before the drive ends. Ultimately the reserve will be ringed by a cordon sanitaire of cleared ground, two miles wide, which the tsetse presumably will not cross.

For the great hunt, the Government has enlisted an enthusiastic army of farmers, veterinarians and Zulu warriors in full warpaint. Zulus take little stock in the white man's nonsense that flies can kill cattle; they know that witches are responsible. But they are looking forward to fun and a record bag of game.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.