Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us
  3. News and media
  4. World Wildlife Day - Australia at the forefront of global pandemic prevention efforts with One Health wildlife surveillance initiative

Back to news - AWE

  • Back to news

World Wildlife Day - Australia at the forefront of global pandemic prevention efforts with One Health wildlife surveillance initiative

  • Media release
  • Biosecurity
  • Diseases
  • Animals
3 March 2022

As the world celebrates World Wildlife Day, Australia’s Chief Veterinary and Environmental Biosecurity officers, celebrate the implementation of Australia’s first-of-its-kind One Health surveillance initiative, funded by the Australian Government.

The initiative will provide a significant boost to Australia’s wildlife disease surveillance, investigation and diagnostic activities, in order to strengthen our ability to prevent, detect and respond to emerging diseases, including those with pandemic potential.

The Australian government, through the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and in collaboration with the Department of Health has partnered with Wildlife Health Australia to deliver the $8.4 million initiative which was collectively announced by the Environment, Agriculture and Health ministers in January 2022.

Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Schipp said the initiative has positioned Australia at the forefront of global efforts to prevent and detect future pandemic spillover events from wildlife.

“The initiative will also support early identification of threats to Australia’s domestic animals and livestock industries, as exotic diseases such as African swine fever (ASF) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) would involve feral animals in their emergence and spread,” Dr Schipp said.

Chief Executive Officer of Wildlife Health Australia Dr Rupert Woods said Wildlife Health Australia’s wildlife disease surveillance work would be strengthened by this initiative, hastening the speed of intelligence gathering to prepare for future emerging diseases and their impacts.

“This new program enhances our investigation of wildlife disease events, which is key to providing early warning of emerging disease risks in Australia, and protecting our native wildlife and ecosystems is critical to pandemic prevention,” Dr Woods said.

Australia’s Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer Dr Robyn Cleland said the initiative will help to protect our native wildlife and help us better identify when our wildlife and ecosystems may be under stress.

“As climate change and land-use changes put pressure on the environment, there is increasing potential for diseases to emerge which may impact wildlife, domestic animals, livestock industries and people,” Dr Cleland said.

“On World Wildlife Day we celebrate Australia’s unique wildlife, and, through our One Health focus, recognise that the health of our environment and wildlife is a precursor to the health of our animal and human populations.”

The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness is also a delivery partner for the initiative, offering in kind support for diagnostics and technical support.

Fast Facts

  • March 3 is the United Nations World Wildlife Day, which celebrates and raises awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.
  • Australia has recently invested $8 million in a One Health initiative, led by Wildlife Health Australia, to enhance Australia’s wildlife disease surveillance capacity and reduce the risk of emerging diseases with future pandemic potential.
  • Emerging pathogens from wildlife are growing in significance as free-ranging wildlife populations become increasingly urbanised, resulting in greater overlap of usage of the environment, and closer direct and indirect contact with humans and domestic animals.
  • Globally, approximately 70% of all emerging diseases are zoonotic, and of these roughly 71% emerge from wildlife. Australia is not isolated from this. In our region, about 67% of emerging / re-emerging diseases are zoonoses and an estimated 63% of these originate in wildlife.
  • Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) is the peak coordinating body for wildlife health in Australia. WHA’s principal objectives are the protection and enhancement of the natural environment.
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Contact us

media@aff.gov.au

(61 2) 6272 3232

Related

Image of 12 eggs, two partly wrapped in white plastic or paper, with a ruler at the bottom of the image

Be a good egg this Easter and bring chocolate only

  • Newsletter
  • Biosecurity
14 April 2025
Image of seeds in a petrie dish, with a ruler in the background

Don’t let seeds cost your pocket and Australia’s environment

  • Newsletter
  • Biosecurity
09 April 2025
Image of an assortment of shipping containers and a machine being used to unload them

Updating industry on our biosecurity import clearance reforms

  • News
  • Biosecurity
08 April 2025
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 12 October 2022

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram