In 2000, Dr. William Karesh (pictured left) and Dr. Richard Kock became the co-chairs of the IUCN Veterinary Specialist Group (VSG). The VSG nearly doubled in size during that time by the addition of wildlife health experts, created a publicly accessible database of its members and their areas of taxonomic, geographic, and disciplinary expertise (www.iucn-vsg.org), and has organized regionally to better serve the information needs of interested parties. The VSG has taken an active role in a number of international conferences and initiatives such as the launch of the Animal Health for the Environment and Development (AHEAD, www.wcs-ahead.org) effort now being embraced by the Southern African Development Community, a series of international meetings under the theme of “One World – One Health” (www.oneworldonehealth.org). VSG members (and the regional coordinators and Co-chairs) have been extremely active with a wide range of pressing topics today including global efforts for avian influenza surveillance in wild birds and diclofenac toxicity and vulture declines in Asia

Since its inception eighteen years ago, William Karesh has directed the Field Veterinary Program for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). He has pioneered initiatives focusing attention on problems raised by the interactions among wildlife, people, and their animals. His programs cover terrain from Argentina to Zambia. The FVP is leading efforts in the Congo Basin to reduce the impact of diseases such as Ebola, measles, and tuberculosis on endangered species such as gorillas and chimpanzees, as well as humans living in the region. Last fall, he led an expedition in Mongolia discovering H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds and the virus isolate was selected by WHO as a candidate for the human vaccine. The first of its kind, the WCS Field Veterinary Program fulfills the need for health-related programs and technical advice among government agencies, natural resource managers, and conservation organizations around the globe. To date, the FVP has initiated and facilitated hundreds of projects in Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Projects are linked with local government authorities as well as international bodies such as WHO 20 and FAO.

“Looking forward, we will continue to focus on the health issues that link wildlife, domestic animals, and people at local, regional, and global scales.” says William.

Dr. Richard Kock has spent 24 years in wildlife health, the last 15 in Eastern Africa. He is acutely aware of the significant discrepancy between the developed and less developed countries regarding opportunities for professional development in this field. He has worked hard to promote his colleagues in Africa, establishing networks and undertaking extensive training of veterinarians. He is currently back in UK at the Zoological Society of London.

“I believe that whilst conservation is the abstraction of the western world or preserve of the academic community and not locally driven, it is irrelevant.” says Richard. Wildlife vets are needed in every country and should bring to the scientific community the ethics and welfare standards that are essential if science is not to be just another exploitation of the natural world for the benefit of individuals. Vets can also act as a bridge between the protectionists of nature and wildlife and those seeking a living from the natural resources.

The method of engagement within the VSG is relaxed: the website is the hub and ensures that problems are addressed by the most experienced members. The membership uses this system as a forum for information and communication. The co-chairs bring to the main IUCN body and others issues of importance and act as a conduit for concerns about wildlife health. This is particularly important for emerging problems, which rapidly ensures the Specialist Group is up to speed on the science. In this age where emerging disease issues are a concern, this is becoming a core of the work. For example, the avian influenza debate and pressing for banning diclofenac, the agent behind the vulture extinction crisis in South Asia.

“Something which concerns our group is getting more dynamic dialogue but in this busy increasingly communication swamped world there is rarely time for reasoned debate or so it seems. This is a pity as there would be more rational action in conservation if there was more thought given to what we are doing and why,” says Richard.