© Limbe Wildlife Centre, Pandrillus Cameroon

On November 3rd, the International One Health Day, Pro Wildlife and its partner organizations from Liberia, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Zambia celebrated the launch of their new report, ‘How to Protect Wildlife and Human Health – A Transnational African Zoonosis Education Campaign (ZEC)’ to share their findings from their 20-month project, funded by the Alliance.

In many African regions, wildlife trade for food (bushmeat), traditional medicine, and pet-keeping is common, posing severe threats to both biodiversity and human health. This trade often involves over-exploitation, illegal hunting, and increase the risk of zoonotic spillover, with pathogens like Ebola and Mpox frequently emerging. Although scientific evidence highlights these risks, awareness among local communities remains low, with bushmeat perceived as a healthy choice.

The Transnational African Zoonosis Education Campaign (ZEC) aims to address this by educating communities in Cameroon, Liberia, Nigeria, and Zambia about zoonotic risks and encouraging behavior change. From November 2022 to June 2024, the campaign reached over 8.2 million people across the four countries. ZEC’s core objectives included broadening outreach, developing educational resources, and fostering lasting awareness. By partnering with existing wildlife conservation centers, the campaign embraced a “One Health” approach, underscoring the interconnectedness of human, wildlife, and environmental health.

The newly launched report not only share each country’s project outcomes but also provides a checklist and practical recommendations for launching similar initiatives elsewhere. This comprehensive guide aims to make zoonoses education an integral part of conservation efforts globally.

To explore more about Pro Wildlife’s impactful work, watch the recording of the Alliance’s ‘Voices from the Ground’ Event from February 1, 2024 here.

Check out the project profile here.