Wildlife

Wild Animal Interface Disease Welfare

Wildlife diseases at the interface between wild animals and humans or livestock cause significant animal suffering and have profound conservation implications.

Key Facts

Bovine tuberculosis affects badgers, deer, and cattle with complex transmission patterns
African swine fever has caused catastrophic losses in European and Asian wild boar populations
Chronic wasting disease affects deer and elk populations across North America and is spreading
Spillover diseases often cause higher mortality in wildlife than in their domestic or human hosts

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife affected by diseases at the human-wildlife interface experience significant suffering from the illness itself and from control measures implemented to protect human or livestock health. African swine fever causes hemorrhagic disease in wild boar with high mortality. Chronic wasting disease causes a prolonged neurological decline in deer. Monitoring, surveillance, and humane management approaches reduce wildlife disease suffering.

What You Can Do

Support wildlife disease monitoring and surveillance programs
Advocate for science-based wildlife disease management that minimizes animal suffering
Support research into vaccine development for wildlife diseases
Never feed wildlife in ways that concentrate animals and increase disease transmission