An Operational Framework for Wildlife Health in the One Health Approach

 

Meaning and Introduction

Wildlife health is a critical component of ecosystem stability, biodiversity conservation, and human well-being. The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human health, animal health (domestic and wild), and the environment, emphasizing that threats in one domain often spill over into others. An operational framework for wildlife health under the One Health lens provides structured mechanisms to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from emerging diseases, zoonotic spillovers, and ecological imbalances—while safeguarding conservation, livelihoods, and public safety.

1. Governance & Coordination

• Establish National One Health Platforms (NOHPs) involving health, agriculture/veterinary, environment/wildlife, disaster management, academia, NGOs, and communities.

• Use Technical Working Groups (TWGs) for surveillance, labs, risk communication, AMR, and finance.

• Strengthen legal and data-sharing mechanisms (MoUs, SOPs) across sectors.

• Ensure clear roles and responsibilities (RACI matrix) in wildlife health emergencies.

2. Risk Assessment & Prevention

• Create national wildlife health risk profiles mapping high-risk species, habitats, and human–animal–environment interfaces.

• Implement biosecurity measures in wildlife facilities, live animal trade, and rehabilitation centers.

• Manage interface zones through livestock vaccination, carcass disposal, and water monitoring.

• Monitor AMR, pesticides, and contaminants in wildlife and ecosystems.

3. Integrated Surveillance

• Use syndromic and pathogen-specific surveillance for priority diseases (HPAI, rabies, anthrax, coronaviruses, etc.).

• Combine indicator-based (lab, clinical), event-based (community, rangers), and environmental-based (water, eDNA, vectors) surveillance.

• Engage rangers, communities, zoos, and ecotourism operators for early warning.

• Standardize data collection and reporting in line with WOAH/WHO systems.

4. Laboratory & Diagnostics Network

• Build a tiered lab system: field rapid tests → regional labs → national reference labs with genomic sequencing.

• Ensure sample collection, transport, biosafety, and chain-of-custody protocols.

• Maintain quality assurance with external proficiency testing and biosafety audits.

5. Data Architecture & Analytics

• Develop an integrated One Health data hub linking wildlife, livestock, and human health records.

• Use GIS mapping, anomaly detection, and genomic epidemiology for outbreak intelligence.

• Provide real-time dashboards with user-specific access (field teams, decision-makers).

6. Field Operations & Response

• Define trigger thresholds for investigation (e.g., primate deaths, mass die-offs, unusual syndromes).

• Deploy Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) with cross-sector expertise.

• Implement SOPs for carcass handling, necropsy, sample collection, quarantine, and decontamination.

• Coordinate livestock vaccination, human post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and community advisories when needed.

7. Risk Communication & Community Engagement

• Provide tailored information products: ranger alerts, tourist advisories, community radio, and posters.

• Designate trained spokespersons and manage rumors actively.

• Promote behavioral changes like safe reporting of dead animals, avoiding direct wildlife contact, and improved market hygiene.

8. Workforce & Capacity Building

• Train personnel in wildlife epidemiology, necropsy, GIS, and biosafety.

• Conduct joint field simulations annually across sectors.

• Ensure occupational health measures (vaccinations, mental health support, PPE access) for frontline teams.

9. Financing & Partnerships

• Allocate core budgets for surveillance, labs, and emergency response.

• Tap into climate, biodiversity, disaster, and conservation funds for co-financing.

• Partner with universities, NGOs, and local communities for innovation and citizen science.

10. Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

• Track indicators like time-to-investigation, sample turnaround, biosafety compliance, and number of joint risk assessments.

• Conduct after-action reviews, annual reports, and triennial external evaluations.

• Use findings to update SOPs, training modules, and risk maps.

11. Cross-Cutting Themes

• Integrate climate change adaptation, disaster preparedness, and transboundary cooperation.

• Safeguard ethical principles, indigenous rights, and wildlife welfare.

• Align outcomes with conservation goals and global obligations (IHR, WOAH, CBD).

12. Implementation Roadmap

• 0–6 months: Establish NOHP, sentinel sites, RRTs, and basic dashboards.

• 6–18 months: Scale surveillance to national level, integrate labs, expand community reporting.

• 18–36 months: Institutionalize funding, integrate metagenomics/eDNA, and strengthen cross-border collaboration.
  

Conclusion

This operational framework strengthens wildlife health systems within the One Health paradigm by combining governance, surveillance, laboratories, response, and community engagement. By operationalizing prevention, detection, response, and recovery mechanisms, countries can reduce zoonotic risks, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable coexistence between humans, animals, and the environment.