It’s a tropical paradise that many Kiwis flock to for its stunning beaches and breathtaking sunsets. But underneath its beauty, the Indonesian island of Bali is battling a rabies outbreak among its dog population and a Kiwi animal lover is at the forefront of fixing the problem.
The New Zealand Woman’s Weekly travelled to Bali to see the work of Joanna Tuckwell (39) who helps manage a project controlling rabies by vaccinating dogs on the island and educating the locals about the deadly disease.Since the outbreak was first announced in late 2008, there have been at least 119 human deaths and many others that have gone unreported.
Joanna, who is taking a six-month secondment from her role at the oinistry of Agricultural and Fisheries in Wellington, was saddened when Bali officials and villagers started killing dogs, some healthy and some pets, to try and fix the problem. Despite nearly 200,000 dogs being killed, it didn’t contain the fatal disease, and now the more humane mass vaccination of dogs is preferred.
It’s her quest to rid the island of rabies without killing dogs and to make the hot spot safe for its animals, its people and for the many Kiwis that visit the popular Asian destination each year.
“I was quite sad that culling was being undertaken. It’s hard to deal with,” says Joanna, who worked as a lawyer before undertaking her role in animal welfare.
The concerned Kiwi knows first-hand the dangers of being exposed to rabies. Just two weeks after arriving in Bali, she was bitten by a dog while walking down the street. The dog attacked after being awoken from his sleep when hearing Joanna coughing.
Despite having her rabies vaccination, Joanna still needed post-exposure injections as a precaution. If the bite had been left untreated, it could have lead to an extremely painful death.
“It goes to show that it can happen to anyone and how serious it can be. I don’t want to scare people, but it’s important that they understand,” she says.
Joanna’s role is funded by the World Society for the Protection of Animals and she works alongside the Bali Animal Welfare Association. Together they aim to vaccinate 70% of the dog population, by going from village to village, with hopes of eradicating the disease.
“The hardest thing about coming to a beautiful place like Bali is persuading people that I’m coming here to work.
It’s work and the hours are long, but it’s fascinating,” she says.
The Weekly tagged along with Joanna and the team as they visited a secluded area to vaccinate dogs. Walking into the remote village, we’re greeted with a chorus of barking and loud squealing. It’s like the dogs are warning each other that something major is about to happen.
The team consists of those responsible for the injections, those whose job it is to tag the animals with paint and collect data, and a team of dog catchers. The catchers are the stars of the group, with their large nets draped over their shoulders, strutting with an air of confidence. one is so popular among the villagers that they call him oick Jagger because of his famous swagger.
Catching a dog is an art form. It only takes a few seconds to corner a canine, trap it in a net and give it an injection.
As we watch the team in action, Joanna explains the importance of Bali’s dogs, who play a large part in the culture and the protection of family homes and temples.
“They are medium-sized and they are pretty and dainty. They are animals to be respected. These street dogs are not pets, but they can become pets given the right environment and care,” she says.
The villagers now bring in their animals in droves to be vaccinated – men and their dogs and children with their cats. The support from the villagers brings Joanna joy knowing she is making a difference.
“It’s exciting. I feel proud and happy when I see people getting involved,” she says. “Knowing that I’m helping to make Bali rabies-free feels fantastic.”
Joanna will return to New Zealand in July, but the vaccination program will continue after she leaves. She says it’s proven to be respectful of the Balinese culture and helps the welfare of animals.
Picking up a puppy, she reflects on her progress and makes a stunning revelation.
“To tell you the truth, I’m a cat person,” she says as she snuggles up to the puppy. “But I’m starting to like dogs even more.”
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