Throughout my global network of sites we have a number of trained field teams working with communities involved in hunting and butchering of wild animals.  These field teams work with the communities to help in the understanding of the risks of contact with wild animals and the steps to take to avoid infections with wild animal pathogens.  Volunteer hunters can become part of our global monitoring network by collecting small blood samples onto filter paper and storing them for collection by our field teams.  The field teams travel back to the sites regularly to collect more samples and to inform participants what has been found in the samples that have been analyzed.  The aim is to encourage people to be aware of risks and take steps to avoid these risks.  The collection of samples allows us to increase our knowledge of the potential pathogen diversity.         

Sanctuaries: A number of sanctuaries have been established in Africa to care for wild-born animals captured during bushmeat hunting.  We collaborate with a number of sanctuaries to collect blood samples during routine veterinary procedures (eg quarantine periods, health checks etc). These samples are analyzed for a variety of pathogens and results provided to the sanctuaries to use in management decisions.  The data is also used to study the diversity of pathogens present in some of the endangered primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees that are protected and that we discourage people from hunting.

Domestic animals: Hunting dogs accompany hunters on many different types of hunting trips and are often injured while catching or holding a wild animal.  They are also often fed on remnants of the butchering process.  If the dogs are infected during the hunting or eating of animal carcasses they may later pass infections on by contact with people in the village. During our field visits a vet undertakes rabies vaccinations for hunting dogs and at the same time collects blood samples.  These samples are analyzed for a variety of pathogens.

Bats: Bats have been responsible for a number of recent diseases.  The Hendra and Nipah viruses in particular have the potential to cause serious mortality.  We work with bat hunters to collect blood samples that can be analyzed for these and other viruses.

Image Gallery: