Sulawesi Utara memiliki risiko tinggi terhadap penularan penyakit dari satwa liar ke ternak domestik hingga manusia. Selain kekayaan keanekaragaman hayati di pulau Sulawesi, hal ini juga dipicu oleh kebiasaan masyarakat mengonsumsi daging hewan liar.
Finneke Wolajan started her career as a journalist soon after she completed her undergrad studies at the Manado State University. In 2013 she worked for Tribun Manado (North Sulawesi) and became a member of the Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in 2015. She is currently the secretary for AJI Manado chapter for the period of 2021-2024. Finneke has attended several journalism trainings and workshop, and was a recipient of reporting fellowships including the Protecting Lives and Livelihoods (AJI, FAO, USAID and Ministry of Agriculture) in 2018, and Rainforest Journalism Fund (Pulitzer Center) and zoonotic reporting (Internews’ Earth Journalism Network) in 2021.

Rabies: Kesadaran masyarakat masih rendah, angka kematian tinggi
Sulawesi Utara merupakan daerah endemik rabies dengan kasus kematian tertinggi di Indonesia. Populasi anjing yang melebihi jumlah vaksin dan kesadaran masyarakat yang rendah membuat rabies terus menghantui daerah ini.