Wildlife conservation and preserving biodiversity: impactful opportunities for veterinarians?

Abstract

The world is losing wildlife species at an unprecedented rate. Habitat destruction, overexploitation, and pollution are the leading causes of biodiversity decline. As a threat multiplier, climate change exacerbates these processes as demonstrated by the death of several billion wild animals in the last few years from wildfires, floods, heatwaves, and other natural disasters. In the face of these challenges, veterinarians have unique and important skillsets to contribute to wildlife conservation and the preservation of biodiversity at many levels. Veterinarians can organize and train to mobilize wildlife extraction, rescue, and rehabilitation units during natural disasters as well as build relationships with rehabilitators to provide their services for general wildlife rehabilitation needs. They can work in transdisciplinary teams to provide veterinary expertise for ecosystem health and rewilding projects. They can become sustainability champions by providing pollinator and wildlife friendly habitats at their clinics and reducing clinic waste and energy consumption, and they can engage in science communication and advocacy. When provided with the necessary information, resources, and action items, veterinarians can increase their positive impact and personal well-being through purposeful, value-driven, community-building efforts to support wildlife conservation and biodiversity.