Wildlife Disease Surveillance and Welfare

Disease surveillance in wildlife protects population welfare and enables early response. Understanding the intersection of disease, welfare and conservation is essential.

Key Facts

Avian influenza has killed millions of wild birds across Europe since 2020
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer is spreading across North America causing 100% fatal infection
Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV2) has severely impacted UK wild rabbit populations
Wildlife disease reporting networks enable rapid response to outbreak events
Biosecurity at waterbird sites can reduce avian influenza spread between wild and captive birds

Welfare Considerations

Disease outbreaks cause significant individual welfare suffering: avian influenza causes neurological signs, respiratory distress and death over days. CWD causes progressive neurological deterioration over months. Individual animals in the late stages of these diseases experience profound welfare deterioration. Surveillance networks that enable rapid detection allow earlier management responses. In some cases, humane culling of severely affected populations limits prolonged suffering. Biosecurity measures that prevent disease introduction protect population welfare proactively.

What You Can Do

Report dead or sick wild birds to APHA's wildlife disease reporting line
Follow biosecurity protocols if keeping domestic poultry near wild waterbirds
Support APHA and BTO wildlife disease surveillance monitoring programmes
Engage with DEFRA on disease management strategies that incorporate welfare considerations
Donate to RSPCA or BDMLR for treatment of individual disease-affected wildlife