Rise in wildlife diseases warns scientists

Story by: Viatori Photography by: Carlos Duarte Translated by: Carlos Duarte mié 13, Ene 2021

The fragmentation of ecosystems, the illegal trafficking of species and the introduction of exotic species in native ecosystems are causing an increase in diseases in wildlife, according to ElPaís de España published in its digital edition.

“At an international level, it has been quantified that, although there has been a greater effort to detect diseases in the last 40 years, there is a greater number of diseases reported in wildlife, whether they are emerging or generating sporadic outbreaks, and that seem to be occurring more continuously, “explains Diego Montecino, wildlife epidemiologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in the United States. “Although there are more eyes looking, there is greater detection of new diseases in populations where pathogens were not previously registered,” he adds.

In simple terms, emerging infectious diseases in wild creatures can be triggered by contagion from domestic animals present in close proximity, by human intervention carrying hosts and pathogens, and by other sources without direct involvement of humans or domestic species.

This problem is escalating to such a level that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently published a global report on the urgency of addressing the health of wildlife on the planet.

*With information from ElPaís

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