Wildlife Disease Association
There was a time when we instinctively understood the connection between ourselves and nature, the link between humans, animals and the environment. But somewhere along the way sadly, the connection was lost.
The Wildlife Disease Association is committed to reestablishing and supporting that link by promoting the philosophy of One Health, the term science has now given to that once-innate natural relationship.
An international organization with a membership that spans Mongolia to Tasmania, the Arctic Circle to Africa, and all points in between, the WDA’s global mission is focused solely on promoting healthy wildlife and ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, and environmentally sustainable solutions to a host of One Health challenges.
It meets these challenges head on by:
- Sharing knowledge on wildlife health via its own Journal of Wildlife Diseases, access to which is free to members in 136 countries.
- Fostering cutting-edge research into wildlife health and welfare through grants and funding efforts.
- Cultivating collaboration between all wildlife health workers through international and regional conferences.
Most importantly, the WDA invests in the future of species worldwide by nurturing the wildlife health professionals of the future, our students. Through a range of initiatives we help grow key relationships to inspire and support students committed to a lifetime of wildlife work. Grants, mentoring programs, workshops, webinars and more contribute to the development of the skills needed to safeguard our wildlife now and for generations to come.
The WDA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax-exempt ID # 36-6098737
The mission of the Wildlife Disease Association is to promote healthy wildlife and ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, and environmentally sustainable solutions to One Health challenges.
Wildlife Disease Association's Work
Events
The Wildlife Disease Association desires to keep all members, and especially student members, informed of upcoming educational opportunities from around the globe, opportunities which encompass diverse species and health challenges. Upcoming events include a webinar series regarding rabies in wildlife, avian feathers and skin problems, and diseases of free-living passerines, a disease risk analysis event at the London Zoo, and a wildlife disease management symposium in Sydney, Australia. The WDA also hosts an international conference each year. This year's conference took place in Athens, Georgia with the 2024 event planned for Canberra, Australia. Past conferences have occurred in France, Argentina, and Australia.
Another key element to advancing the mission of the Wildlife Disease Association is sharing scholarly research and experience through the organization's many publications. The Journal of Wildlife Diseases is a respected scholarly publication and includes reports of wildlife disease investigations, review articles, research papers, brief research notes, case and epizootic reports, and book reviews. The WDA Magazine is published quarterly and keeps members informed of association business and items of contemporary interest in wildlife diseases. In addition, WDA Conference Proceedings and Program Abstracts present conference proceedings from the Wildlife Disease Association's annual international conferences.
Publications
Image Courtesy of Dominik Fretz
Charter of Values
In August 2021, the Wildlife Disease Association council voted to adopt a charter of values. These eight statements represent the the basic, common goals and values that WDA members hold in common:
- That the conservation of biological diversity is of benefit and essential to human societies now and in the future;
- That the health of wild animals, humans and domestic animals are interconnected and interdependent within a shared environment (‘One Health’);
- That wildlife health is a global challenge transcending cultural and political boundaries and demanding international integration and cooperation of the scientific community, stakeholders and society;
- That knowledge of wildlife health is best achieved through rigorous science, recognition of other accumulated forms of knowledge (e.g. traditional, experiential, professional), and open and respectful debate;
- That our Association is most effective by being multidisciplinary, diverse, inclusive, fair and equitable;
- That communicating the science of our members and values of our Association through advocacy and outreach is integral to achieving our mission;
- That the future of our community and accomplishment of our mission depends on the fostering of student and early career learning and professional development;
- That our Association should conduct its business according to principles of environmental sustainability.
Join us in supporting the Wildlife Disease Association.
75% of this month's donations will go towards this month's partner, Wildlife Disease Association.
This month and every month, Wild Boyz Photography will be partnering with one nonprofit. 75% of any donations that we receive during the month will go to the nonprofit.