Veterinary Conservation Biology: Wildlife Health and Management in Australasia

Abstract

WILDLIFE conservation in Australasia continues to be a challenging yet exciting field of study. However, it has focused chiefly on the management of exotic pests and the conservation of dwindling populations of threatened species by wildlife biologists. The significance of disease has rarely been monitored and has largely been overlooked as a possible catalyst towards the past, and indeed current, flux in populations of species. Recent wildlife health issues highlight the paucity of baseline information on wildlife disease. The involvement of veterinarians in these conservation projects has largely been minimal. The title of the proceedings, Veterinary Conservation Biology, offers insight into a unique co-operation between biologists and veterinarians. These proceedings present a vast spectrum of studies that aim to highlight the contributing role that veterinarians can play in the conservation of native wildlife.