Anti-Rabies Unit resumes night trapping exercises

2026-03-19 - 22:54

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has resumed night trapping exercises in the South-East and South-West quadrants of Trinidad as part of the national Vampire Bat Population Control Programme. The operations, which began on March 9, 2026, will continue on a continuous basis across the country. The exercises are conducted mainly at night, when vampire bats are most active. The Ministry said these activities are part of ongoing surveillance and control efforts to reduce the risk of rabies transmission and protect Trinidad’s livestock population. Rabies is a viral and zoonotic disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including livestock, wildlife, and humans. In Trinidad, the virus is maintained primarily in the vampire bat population, which can transmit it to livestock through bites. The Ministry is urging residents and farmers to cooperate with Anti-Rabies Unit officers to ensure the effectiveness of these rabies vector control activities. Any abnormal clinical signs, sudden deaths in livestock, or evidence of bat attacks should be reported immediately to the Anti-Rabies Unit at 693-1682 or to the nearest County Veterinary Office. Senator the Honourable Ravi Ratiram, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, commended the Animal Production and Health Division for resuming the programme, noting that the last bat trapping exercise took place in 2023. He said the current operations are part of ongoing efforts for early detection, monitoring, and management of potential risks to the livestock sector. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public and animal health and supporting farmers through continued surveillance, prevention, and response initiatives.