Search Results (272)

Rabies remains a significant global public health concern, causing an estimated 59,000–69,000 human fatalities annually. Despite being entirely preventable through vaccination, rabies continues to impose substantial economic burdens worldwide. This study presents a scoping review of the economic research on rabies to determine overlaps and gaps in knowledge and inform future research strategies. We selected 150 studies (1973–2024) to analyze. The review categorizes the literature based on geographic distribution, species focus, and type of study. Findings indicate that economic studies are disproportionately concentrated in developed countries, such as the United States and parts of Europe, where rabies risk is low, while high-risk regions, particularly in Africa and Asia, remain underrepresented. Most studies focus on dog-mediated rabies, reflecting its dominant role in human transmission, while fewer studies assess the economic impacts of wildlife and livestock-mediated rabies. Case studies and modeling approaches dominate the literature, whereas cost–benefit and cost–effectiveness analyses—critical for informing resource allocation—are limited. The review highlights the need for more economic evaluations in rabies-endemic regions, expanded research on non-dog reservoirs, and broader use of economic methods. Addressing these gaps will be crucial for optimizing rabies control and supporting global initiatives to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030. Full article

The rising popularity of ecotourism on the Tibetan Plateau has intensified the tension between wildlife conservation and economic development. Conventional wildlife displays often fail to achieve high-fidelity, non-invasive representations of animal morphology and typically lack immersive, interactive features, limiting public engagement in ecological protection. To address these limitations, this study presents a fur simulation algorithm based on the Texture Procedural Overlay Technique (TPOT), integrated with Augmented Reality (AR) technology, focusing on the endangered white-lipped deer in the Sanjiangyuan region. The proposed TPOT-based algorithm enhances the visual realism of fur through multi-layered procedural texturing and physical property fusion. Combined with an AR-driven interactive framework, it seamlessly integrates high-resolution 3D models into real-world environments, significantly improving user immersion and engagement. Comparative experiments demonstrate that the approach surpasses traditional static display fidelity and animation rendering efficiency methods. User feedback further validates its effectiveness for scientific research and environmental education. This work introduces an innovative technological solution for wildlife conservation on the Tibetan Plateau and provides a practical reference for applying digital technologies in ecotourism. Full article

National parks serve as critical spatial units for conserving ecological baselines, maintaining genetic diversity, and delivering essential ecosystem services. However, accelerating socio-economic development has increasingly intensified the conflict between ecological protection and transportation infrastructure. Ecologically sustainable transportation planning is, therefore, essential to mitigate habitat fragmentation, facilitate species migration, and conserve biodiversity. This study examines the Giant Panda National Park and its buffer zone, focusing on six mammal species: giant panda, Sichuan snub-nosed monkey, leopard cat, forest musk deer, rock squirrel, and Sichuan takin. By integrating Maxent ecological niche modeling with circuit theory, it identified ecological source areas and potential corridors, and employed a two-step screening approach to design species-specific wildlife crossings. In total, 39 vegetated overpasses were proposed to serve all target species; 34 underpasses were integrated using existing bridge and culvert structures to minimize construction costs; and 27 canopy bridges, incorporating suspension cables and elevated pathways, were designed to connect forest canopies for arboreal species. This study established a multi-species and multi-scale conservation framework, providing both theoretical insights and practical strategies for ecologically integrated transportation planning in national parks, contributing to the synergy between biodiversity conservation and sustainable development goals. Full article

The future of marine sustainability depends on public understanding and trust in the policy recommendations that emerge from scientific research. For common pool marine resource decisions made by the people who depend on these resources for their food, employment, and economic future, understanding the current status of these marine systems and change is essential to ensure these resources will persist into the future. As such, the informal learning infrastructure is essential to increasing marine science literacy in a changing world. This mixed-methods research study analyzed the distribution and accessibility of marine science education and research across Alaska’s five geographic regions. Using the PRISMA framework, we synthesized data from 198 institutions and analyzed peer-reviewed literature on marine ecosystems to identify geographic and thematic gaps in access to informal science learning and research focus. In parallel, we undertook geospatial analysis and resource availability to describe the distribution of resources, types of informal learning infrastructure present across the state, regional presence, and resources to support informal marine science learning opportunities. Findings from this multifactor research revealed a concentration of resources in urban hubs and a lack of consistent access to learning resources for rural and Indigenous communities. The configurative literature review of 9549 publications identified topical underrepresentation of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, as well as a lack of research on seabirds across all regions. Considered together, these results recommend targeted investments in rural engagement with marine science programming, culturally grounded partnerships, and research diversification. This review concludes that disparities in learning resource support and government-funded priorities in marine wildlife research have created conditions that undermine the local people’s participation in the sustainability of sensitive resources and are likely exacerbating declines driven by rapid change in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. Full article

Global biodiversity is in crisis, with wildlife populations declining 69% since 1970 (WWF). Preserving and restoring ecosystems is essential for sustaining life on Earth. However, many countries rely on market-based instruments like biodiversity offsets, despite little evidence of their effectiveness. This study critically examines biodiversity offsets, identifying institutional, data, ecological, economic, and social failures that undermine their success. Using Indonesia, a global biodiversity hotspot, as a case study, we develop an econometric model to analyze key drivers of deforestation. The findings reveal that biodiversity offset schemes are fundamentally flawed: they lack scientific credibility, rely on arbitrary ratios, lack auditing and transparency, create value conflicts, and fail to achieve “No Net Loss” even over a 100-year timeframe. Offsets do not compensate for lost biodiversity, especially for affected communities, and are rarely supported by ecosystem mapping or robust valuation metrics. Without major reforms, they cannot halt or reverse biodiversity loss. A stronger, evidence-based approach is urgently needed. Rather than relying on ineffective offset schemes, the global community must prioritize genuine ecosystem restoration and sustainable conservation strategies to protect biodiversity for future generations. Full article

The H5N1 avian influenza virus continues to evolve into genetically diverse and highly pathogenic clades with increased potential for cross-species transmission. Recent scientific advances have included the development of next-generation vaccine platforms, promising antiviral compounds, and more sensitive diagnostic tools, alongside strengthened surveillance systems in both animals and humans. However, persistent structural challenges hinder global readiness. Vaccine production is heavily concentrated in high-income countries, limiting equitable access during potential pandemics. Economic and logistical barriers complicate the implementation of control strategies such as vaccination, culling, and compensation schemes. Gaps in international coordination, public communication, and standardization of protocols further exacerbate vulnerabilities. Although sustained human-to-human transmission has not been documented, the severity of confirmed infections and the rapid global spread among wildlife and domestic animals underscore the urgent need for robust preparedness. International organizations have called for comprehensive pandemic response plans, enhanced multisectoral collaboration, and investment in targeted research. Priorities include expanding surveillance to asymptomatic animal hosts, evaluating viral shedding and transmission routes, and developing strain-specific and universal vaccines. Strengthening global cooperation and public health infrastructure will be critical to mitigate the growing threat of H5N1 and reduce the risk of a future influenza pandemic. Full article

After decades of calls for more sustainable land use systems, there is still a lack of consensus on an appropriate way forward, especially for tropical and subtropical agroecosystems. Land Maxing utilises appropriate, community-based interventions to fortify and maximise the multiple, long-term benefits and interest flows from investments that rebuild all six essential capitals of sustainable development (natural, social, human, physical, financial and political/corporate will) for resource-poor smallholder communities in tropical and subtropical countries. Land Maxing adds domestication of overlooked indigenous food tree species, and the commercialization of their marketable products, to existing land restoration efforts while empowering local communities, enhancing food sovereignty, and boosting the local economy and overall production. These agroecological and socio-economic interventions sustainably restore and intensify subsistence agriculture replacing conventional negative trade-offs with fortifying ‘trade-ons’. Land Maxing is therefore productive, regenerative, remunerative and transformative for farming communities in the tropics and sub-tropics. Through the development of resilience at all levels, Land Maxing uniquely addresses the big global issues of environmental degradation, hunger, malnutrition, poverty and social injustice, while mitigating climate change and restoring wildlife habitats. This buffers subsistence farming from population growth and poor international governance. The Tropical Agricultural Association International is currently planning a programme to up-scale and out-scale Land Maxing in Africa. Full article

Free-ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) pose a significant but often overlooked threat to wildlife populations and global conservation efforts while also having the potential to contribute positively to conservation initiatives. As generalist predators and scavengers, these adaptable animals can lead to biodiversity loss through predation, disease transmission, competition, and behavioral disruption of native species. This review synthesizes global studies on their ecological impact, highlighting notable cases of predation on endangered species, such as the markhor (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis) in Pakistan and elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) in Mexico, as well as the spread of zoonotic diseases like Echinococcus spp. and canine distemper. A growing concern is hybridization between free-ranging dogs and wild canids. Such genetic mixing can erode local adaptations, reduce genetic purity, and undermine conservation efforts for wild canid populations. Current management strategies—including lethal control, trap–neuter–release, and vaccination—have produced mixed results and face challenges related to data limitations, regional variability, and cultural barriers. This review advocates for integrated, context-specific management approaches that consider ecological, social, and economic dimensions. Future research should prioritize standardized definitions and data collection, long-term evaluation of intervention effectiveness, and the socio-economic drivers of dog–wildlife interactions to develop sustainable solutions for mitigating the multifaceted threats imposed by free-ranging dogs to global diversity. Full article

Decreases in animal mortality due to wildlife–vehicle collisions have been consistently documented as an environmental effect of human mobility restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we investigate this phenomenon on the mid-sized Mediterranean island of Lesvos, considering a multi-species group of mammals over a five-year systematic recording of animal casualties. We developed a method to analyze the relationship between actual casualties and risk, drawing inspiration from Markowitz’s theory on multi-asset optimization in economics. Additionally, we treated this phenomenon as a Poisson probabilistic process. Our main finding indicates that the lockdown year diverged markedly in modeled return–risk space, exhibiting a displacement on the order of 10² compared to the multi-year baseline—an outcome that reflects structural changes in risk dynamics, not a literal 100-fold decrease in observed counts. This modeled shift is significantly larger compared to published evidence regarding individual species. The results concerning the vulnerability of specific mammals, analyzed as a Poisson process, underscore the importance of singular events that can overshadow the overall systemic nature of the issue. We conclude that a promising strategy for addressing this problem is for conservationists to integrate animal-friendly measures into general human road safety policies. Full article

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the zoonotic virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, has caused global health and economic disruption. American mink (Neovison vison) are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and capable of transmitting it to both mink and humans. We previously reported the first detection of SARS-CoV-2 in feral mink, with two positive cases among 13 animals in the upper courses of two rivers in the Valencian Community, eastern Spain. Here, we expand that study with 60 additional feral mink sampled from November 2020 to May 2022. Four new positives were identified by two-step RT-PCR assay on necropsy samples, including nasal and rectal swabs, lung tissue, lymph nodes, and fetuses from three pregnant females. In total, six of 73 mink tested positive, all with low viral loads. Sanger sequencing confirmed infection and revealed clustering with the B.1.177 and Alpha variants. Body weight and reproductive status analyses indicated seasonal breeding and high population turnover, consistent with other wild mink populations. Our findings reveal that SARS-CoV-2 circulation is limited in feral mink, at least in this region. They underscore the key importance of wildlife surveillance as an element of the One Health strategy, which encompasses humans, animals, and the environment. Full article

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is a significant zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus cestode parasites, affecting a variety of animals, including humans and wildlife, with serious implications for public health. In Pakistan, CE continues to pose a considerable public health challenge, impacting the livestock sector and wildlife conservation due to its economic and socio-cultural ramifications. This study aimed to examine the frequency of lesions indicative of Echinococcus cysts in livestock across several slaughterhouses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with the data collection occurring from May 2022 to February 2024. A total of 1120 animals, including 455 buffaloes, 295 cows, 200 sheep, and 170 goats, were assessed. The overall CE prevalence was found to be 5.7% (95% CI: 4.3–7.0%; 63 out of 1120), with the highest frequency in buffaloes (6.6%; 95% CI: 4.3–8.9%) and the lowest in goats (2.9%; 95% CI: 0.4–5.5%). Female animals demonstrated a higher infection rate (6.3%; 95% CI: 4.4–8.1%) compared to males (4.7%; 95% CI: 2.8–6.7%), with the liver being the most frequently affected organ (55.0%; 95% CI: 41.7–66.3%). Additionally, a survey of 200 respondents revealed that 74.5% of farmers were unaware of CE, and only 14.5% were taking preventive measures against parasites. These findings suggest a potential decline in the prevalence of this parasitic disease, likely due to advancements in veterinary services and modern farming practices. Full article

Recreational hunting is a highly regulated activity, in part because it can give rise to a variety of deleterious social, environmental, and economic harms. It provides an interesting area for those interested in community safety because of the way in which both formal (e.g., enforcement officers, proscribed areas and times for hunting, licensing, etc.) and informal (e.g., community awareness and education, conservation) methods of crime prevention are applied. And yet, the criminological literature on effective regulation is not only limited but diverse in terms of scope, types of behavior considered (e.g., poaching, wildlife trading, recreation, etc.), and the context that is considered (e.g., geographical, cultural, etc.). In this paper, we present how a crime prevention and compliance response can be used to understand the nature of the issue and the individual and socio-political processes that result in non-compliance with hunting regulations. We present an overview of the status of recreational hunting in an Australian jurisdiction and locate the regulatory issues that arise within the research literature that explores the various motivations that are known to drive illegal hunting. These are then considered in relation to how community-oriented and non-coercive measures might be employed to improve prevent criminal behavior at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Full article

Forest ecosystems deliver ecosystem services (ESs) that are essential for the well-being of local communities. These services necessitate a clear understanding of their perception among community members in order to facilitate informed and sustainable forest management decisions. This study aimed to explore the relationship between forest ESs and local communities by identifying community preferences for key ESs and examining how socio-economic factors influence this perception. Data was collected through participatory methods, including focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and a household survey involving 453 respondents. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. We identified firewood, rainfall attraction, air quality, and wildlife habitat as the most acknowledged services in their respective ES categories. Land ownership, education level, Community Forest Association membership, and labor migration significantly influenced service recognition. These findings highlight critical areas for intervention, including livelihood enhancement, cultural heritage preservation, and improved community outreach programs. The outcomes of this research are expected to contribute to the sustainable management of forest ecosystems. Full article

This review synthesizes historical and contemporary research on wildlife–vehicle collisions and roadkill, outlining its evolution from early documentation to modern road ecology. It discusses how early efforts in North America and Europe that quantified animal casualties and developed standardized methodologies formed current studies that use advanced geospatial tools, citizen science, and artificial intelligence to analyze spatiotemporal patterns. We examine key ecological, methodological, and economic impacts of roadkill on wildlife populations and human safety, highlighting the role of road density, vehicle speed, and seasonal factors. The framework presented also underscores a commitment to sustainability by integrating environmental conservation with infrastructural development and socio-economic resilience. The review details various mitigation strategies, from fencing and wildlife crossings to dynamic signage, and evaluates their effectiveness in reducing mortality rates, thereby supporting sustainable development in transportation infrastructure and wildlife management. It also identifies research gaps and outlines future directions, advocating for integrated, multidisciplinary approaches to improve wildlife conservation, infrastructure planning, and public awareness in the context of rapidly expanding road networks. Full article

Pasteurella multocida is a zoonotic pathogen responsible for severe diseases in domestic and wild animals, posing threats to public health and causing substantial economic losses. Here, we describe a naturally attenuated P. multocida strain, FCF147, isolated from a mortality event involving black-necked swans (Cygnus melancoryphus) in a wildlife habitat in Fujian, China. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that FCF147 is evolutionarily distant from other P. multocida lineages and lacks the entire capsule gene cluster. Morphological observations revealed that the loss of the capsule exposed proteins on the bacterial surface. Phenotypic characterization demonstrated reduced capsule production, enhanced biofilm formation, and increased tolerance to heat stress. In vivo infection models confirmed that FCF147 exhibits markedly attenuated virulence in both mice and poultry. However, immunization with FCF147 did not provide effective protection against the challenge of a virulent capsular type A strain. These findings suggest that while FCF147 is poorly virulent, its ability to form robust biofilms and survive thermal stress may facilitate persistence in wild bird reservoirs and potential transmission routes. These findings offer novel insights into the ecological adaptation and pathogenic potential of naturally capsule-deficient P. multocida in wildlife, highlighting their relevance to wildlife surveillance and disease ecology. Full article