The realities of illegal wildlife trade, the changes in ecosystem dynamics, and the closeness of human population to wild areas, are events that could potentially trigger the appearance of diseases through zoonosis. These elements joined with the fact that there is significant lack of knowledge regarding the health of wildlife in northern Guatemala, highlighted the need to train personnel, equip an entity dedicated to the health of wild animals and create a methodology for obtaining viable samples for correct long-term storage, safeguarding irreplaceable biological information, and facilitating present and future research. Improving the chances of early detection of pathogens and the future conservation of the integral health of the wild fauna of the Maya Biosphere Reserve.  

The main objective of this project was to strengthen the regional knowledge on One Health issues, through the generation of a baseline of information on pathogens in wild animals, producing a bank of properly managed and preserved samples, and training the staff of institutions related to this work and topic. Project partner was the Guatemalan NGO ARCAS, that is among other engagements running a rescue centre in Petén/ Guatemala.  

Main outcome: 

• Screening of samples from 714 different animals including primates, birds and reptiles identifying VEEV (Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus), Patois virus, and hepacivirus. 

• Training of rangers to report wildlife accidents or deaths in the Selva Maya to ARCAS 

• Equipped an entity dedicated to the health of wild animals and create a methodology for obtaining viable samples for correct long-term storage, safeguarding irreplaceable biological information, and facilitating present and future research. 

Find more information and the overall learnings of the Alliance financed projects in the report “Learning to make Change Happen.- Global Lessons from 18 projects”