Project Overview 

The project strengthened capacities to assess, manage, and communicate zoonotic disease risks associated with illegal wildlife trade. Using a One Health approach, participants analysed wildlife trade supply chains, identified disease transmission pathways, developed risk management plans, and designed communication strategies to reduce risks for wildlife professionals, communities, and public health systems. 

Results & Outcomes 

Disease Risk Assessment 

• Developed and tested qualitative risk assessment methodologies for key wildlife trade scenarios. 
• Analysed zoonotic transmission pathways involving: 
• Tuberculosis in long-tailed macaques, 
• SARS-CoV-2 in illegally traded pangolins, 
• H5N1 avian influenza in wild birds. 
• Identified critical human–animal contact points along capture, transport, rescue, rehabilitation, and release stages. 

Outcome: 
Improved understanding of zoonotic disease risks associated with illegal wildlife trade and strengthened evidence-based risk assessment capacities. 

Risk Management 

• Developed risk management plans for priority disease threats in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation systems. 
• Identified critical control points where interventions are most effective. 
• Recommended practical measures including quarantine systems, disease surveillance, biosafety protocols, staff health screening, and enhanced use of personal protective equipment (PPE). 
• Applied structured decision-making approaches balancing public health, biodiversity conservation, and socio-economic considerations. 

Outcome: 
Established practical frameworks to reduce zoonotic disease transmission risks at wildlife trade and rescue interfaces. 

Risk Communication and One Health Coordination 

• Developed stakeholder-specific risk communication strategies at national, provincial, and local levels. 
• Mapped communication networks linking government agencies, international organisations, wildlife rescue centres, NGOs, and local communities. 
• Promoted awareness campaigns, training programmes, and community engagement on zoonotic disease prevention and biosafety. 

Outcome: 
Strengthened cross-sector collaboration and improved preparedness for responding to wildlife-related disease risks. 

Cross-Cutting Results 

• Increased technical capacity in zoonotic disease risk assessment, management, and communication. 
• Strengthened collaboration between wildlife, veterinary, public health, and environmental authorities. 
• Identified priority interventions to improve disease surveillance and biosafety in wildlife rescue centres and wildlife trade hotspots. 
• Generated practical tools and methodologies that can be replicated across countries and wildlife trade contexts.