As the world has scrambled to respond to the threat of SARS-CoV-2, a spotlight has been shone on the interface between humans, wildlife and the health of our planet. While emerging infectious disease has become recognised as a leading cause of species decline over the last few decades, recent months have seen a rapidly growing appreciation of the need for e?ective disease surveillance and control to protect all life on earth, ourselves included. Putting quality veterinary science right at the heart of species conservation has never been more vital. It is essential that those working on the conservation frontline are able to discriminate between existing endemic disease and new emerging diseases with the potential to threaten a multitude of species.
Healthy, biodiverse ecosystems naturally regulate disease. However, population growth, settlement spread and increasing livestock numbers mean habitat is being inevitably reduced and degraded, eroding the natural bu?er between people and wild animals. As a result, ecosystems are weakened, with unregulated hunting and the illegal wildlife trade exacerbating the problem. Different species are coming into ever closer contact and the chances for diseases to jump between hosts are increasing. Canine distemper virus (CDV) is one example, with the pathogen able to spread from domestic dogs to wild carnivores. Painted wolves, tigers and lions are among the species already affected. Disease modelling for threatened Amur tiger populations in the Russian Far East has shown that a small tiger population can be up to a staggering 56% more likely to become extinct if CDV is present (Gilbert, Martin et al. PLoS One 2014; 9(10): e110811).
Founded in 2004, Wildlife Vets International (WVI) collaborates with and trains a wide range of veterinary professionals, including veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons, veterinary technicians and pathologists, as well as field biologists and other conservation staff. We make sure they know how to monitor the level of disease in the animal populations they work with, and how to mitigate any threats. It is not just about having the necessary knowledge of disease but also the practical skills to diagnose, treat and prevent illness.
We are particularly fortunate to work with Matthew Rendle RVN, knowledgeable exotic nurse and currently Chair of the RCVS VN Council. Matthew is instrumental to our work with turtles in the Mediterranean, primates in Africa and raptors in India. A very popular trainer, he is always generous in sharing his considerable expertise. Matthew is currently working with our partners in Ghana, West African Primate Conservation Action, on a plan to reintroduce white-naped mangabeys. Looking at what disease threats might exist for both the mangabeys and other wildlife at the proposed release sight is a central part of the project.
We hope to be involved with the disease control and surveillance aspect of several other initiatives next year. These include investigating disease prevalence in African forest elephants, about whom very little is known, looking at the response of captive painted dogs to vaccination, and continuing long-term support for species recovery programmes in Mauritius.
The growing global reputation of WVI as a leading provider of veterinary expertise has seen more and more projects approaching us for help. Although 2020 has curtailed the ability of our veterinary partners to be out on the ground, they have remained very active remotely. Like many charitable organisations, however, our fund-raising has suffered in recent months as many of the zoos and corporate organisations which normally support us simply cannot do so this year. Disease surveillance is so important, but of course it is not possible to highlight the plight of individual animals to help attract donations in the way that welfare organisations are able to do.
This all means that we need veterinary professionals who understand why disease matters so much to help us get the message across during our 2020 Big Give Christmas Challenge — our annual fundraising focus. It would be great if you can join us on social media @WildlifeVetsInt and share our campaign in December!