Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance & Vertebrate Ecotoxicology

Concepts

• animal health
• vertebrate ecotoxicology
• health surveillance
• disease risk analysis
• the appropriate disease risk analysis
• health
• surveillance
• ecotoxicology
• vertebrate
• disease

Location

Description

There are two programmes covered by this MoA between Natural England and the Institute of Zoology – Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance and Vertebrate Ecotoxicology. Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance Since 1999, Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme (SRP) has funded a number of conservation translocations and re-introductions. The Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have undertaken the necessary disease risk analyses and health surveillance for these projects including the monitoring of animal health before, during and after release. This project will enable the appropriate disease risk analysis to be undertaken for animals that are to be released in this financial year and the continued monitoring of those animals that have been released, where appropriate. This is necessary whether the origin of these species are ex-situ populations destined for reintroductions, reintroduced populations or wild populations. It will ensure that Natural England continues to follow high standards when undertaking conservation translocations including meeting our obligations under the internationally agreed IUCN guidelines for re-introductions and the DEFRA code for reintroductions and other conservation translocations in England. Vertebrate Ecotoxicology – Beavers and Red Kites There are large gaps in our understanding on the exposure and effects of terrestrial species to chemicals of concern (e.g. pesticides, biocides, heavy metals, and persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals). This project is in two parts to further our understanding of these chemicals in wildlife: one concerning the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) and the other the red kite (Milvus milvus).

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• None found

Legal Justification

Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance This is a partnership project between Natural England and Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, the purpose of which is to utilise the expertise and experience of the two organisations to ensure that species recovery work is carried out to a high standard. This involves assessing the threats from disease and providing protocols and management approaches that minimise the risks in order to ensure that projects have a high chance of success and do not endanger other species through the spread of disease. The work is based around an agreed annual programme, with areas of work mutually agreed between the two partners. Vertebrate Ecotoxicology – Beaver and Red Kites Beaver ecotoxicology A disease surveillance programme for Eurasian beavers in England is being undertaken by the Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance (DRAHS) team, Zoological Society of London (ZSL), in partnership with Natural England. As part of this programme, detailed post-mortem examinations are performed on free-living beavers found dead in England. This work has provided the opportunity to begin building an archive of morphological measurements and tissues which could, in future, aid in investigations of both the levels and adverse effects of contaminants of existing and emerging concern in beavers. Red kite ecotoxicology An ongoing translocation project coordinated by ZSL has provided a valuable opportunity to collect such data from red kites (Milvus milvus), which are also currently included as a sentinel species for the Environmental Improvement Plan H4 indicator: exposure and adverse effects of chemicals on wildlife in the environment.

Other Information

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