Page 487 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

424 Matilde Tomaselli and Patricia Curry

with specialized teams that are experienced in example of participatory wildlife health and dis-
wildlife capture techniques, including the use of ease surveillance implemented in a remote and
tranquillizer darts and humane trapping, as well resource-constrained setting of Canada’s North.
as specific skills relevant to the data being col-
lected. To minimize stress for the animals and to
maximize the sample collection and data quality, 11.3 A practical example from
it is advisable to clearly define the role of each Canada’s Arctic: the
team member and be ready to manage critical participatory muskox health
situations (for example, prolonged recovery surveillance in Cambridge Bay,
time from sedation or anaesthesia). Additionally, Nunavut
when there is potential for unexpected lesions,
being prepared to collect extra diagnostic sam- In the Arctic, implementing wildlife surveillance
ples (for example, swabs, biopsy, smears) can be activities is an extremely difficult endeavour
important for identifying a new disease. due to the harsh environmental conditions and
A range of diagnostic samples and data logistical challenges. However, there is urgent
can also be collected from dead wild animals. need for wildlife health and disease surveil-
Examples are when wildlife is hunted for sub- lance in Canada’s north owing to the declining
sistence, recreation (sport hunting/fishing), numbers of key species and the important roles
or as part of population control programmes. these play in the livelihoods of indigenous peo-
Understanding the context and engaging with ples. Hunting wild game, or ‘country foods’, is
the appropriate stakeholders is an important essential for the livelihood of northern peoples.
aspect to consider for the success of the sampling Commercial food stores in the north have a lim-
and, ultimately, the surveillance programme. For ited selection of products, and what is available
example, working with hunters to understand there is expensive. For northern indigenous peo-
logistics and feasibility for sample collection and ples, wild animals are also profoundly connected
sample storage in the field is an essential step in with cultural and social values. In this context,
the successful design and implementation of a wildlife health is closely tied to the physical and
hunter-based sampling programme. mental health of many northerners, and there
To maximize the immediate and the long- are growing concerns about zoonotic pathogens
term benefits of wildlife disease surveillance, it (for example, brucellosis) and the sustainability
is strongly recommended to store the data and of arctic wildlife.
samples appropriately (for example, data stored Wild animals range throughout vast and
in digital format, samples identifiable with remote areas of the Canadian Arctic where tem-
unique numbers) and to archive sub-samples peratures remain well below freezing for most
for future studies. Assessing and understand- of the year and where the dark season during
ing the health status of wildlife populations can winter is characterized by limited (or no) sun-
provide useful information about the integrity of light. In such a setting, accessing animals for
ecosystems and is of particular importance for surveillance is logistically difficult (or impos-
implementing effective wildlife conservation and sible in some areas/seasons) and the costs are
management plans. The considerations noted in extremely high and prohibitive. Collaborating
this section highlight the importance of hav- with multiple stakeholders, including resource
ing ongoing knowledge of the general health of users, and integrating quantitative and qualita-
wildlife populations rather than focusing solely tive approaches and knowledge are essential to
on disease. The following section provides an overcome these barriers.

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