IUCN COMMISSION GROUP

IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group

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Overview and description

Description:
The group is commissioned to serve as a first response for wildlife health concerns relevant to conservation around the world. The focus of the group is on health impacts that relate to the ...

The group is commissioned to serve as a first response for wildlife health concerns relevant to conservation around the world. The focus of the group is on health impacts that relate to the conservation of species, some of which are negative to wildlife population persistence and a threat to endangered species.

Group leadership

Dr Tiggy GRILLO

Co-Chair
Veterinarian (University of Glasgow) and PhD in molecular parasitology. Current role with Wildlife Health Australia (since May 2009) involves coordination of wildlife health professionals across…
Veterinarian (University of Glasgow) and PhD in molecular parasitology. Current role with Wildlife Health Australia (since May 2009) involves coordination of wildlife health professionals across government and non-government organisations in support of Australian's national wildlife health surveillance system. Currently Australia's World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Focal Point for Wildlife Health.

Dr marcela UHART

Co-Chair
Marcela (Marcy) Uhart is a wildlife veterinarian from Argentina, with 30 years of experience in free-ranging wildlife health research and conservation. Since 2013, she has been the…

Marcela (Marcy) Uhart is a wildlife veterinarian from Argentina, with 30 years of experience in free-ranging wildlife health research and conservation. Since 2013, she has been the Director of the Latin America Program at the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. From her home-base in Patagonia, Argentina, she runs long-term projects with southern right whales, penguins, albatrosses and petrels, many of them first established during her 17 years with the Wildlife Conservation Society. As an internationally recognized scientist, she has published over 450 peer-reviewed and other professional papers, reports and chapters. For over 15 years, she has served as the regional coordinator for the IUCN Wildlife Health Specialist Group in South America.  Among a long list of service, she is a past president of the Wildlife Disease Association, is currently a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Working Group on Wildlife, and serves on the Steering Committee for OFFLU, the WOAH and FAO network of experts on animal influenza,  and on the International Whaling Commission Expert Panel on Strandings. Marcy’s work aims for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem health under a One Health approach that acknowledges the interconnections between wildlife, humans and the environment.

At a glance

Official name:
IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group
Associated Commissions: