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Wildlife, People and development: Veterinary contributions to wildlife health and resource management in Africa

Faune Sauvage, Population Et Developpement: Contribution A La Sante De La Faune Sauvage Et A La Gestion Des Ressources En Afrique

Fauna, Poblacion Y Desarrollo: Contribuciones De La Profesion Veterinaria A La Sanidad De La Fauna Y A La Gestion De Los Recursos Naturales En Africa

Summary

Human population pressures, habitat loss, environmental degradation and illegal hunting in Africa have resulted in the loss of biodiversity and near extinction of certain wildlife species. The dilemma for Africa is the balancing of conservation and development. If wildlife is not to become a relic of the past then it must have more than just aesthetic value. It must contribute materially to the well being of people who live close to the resource. In fact, appropriate management of biodiversity would lay the foundations for a more positive future for the rural people of Africa, with the key being the adoption of an active adaptive management philosophy. This paper reviews the issue of sustainable use of wildlife resources and how the Veterinary profession contributes positively to wildlife health management in Africa. These contributions have been through increasing veterinary inputs into wildlife management and research, disease surveillance and prevention, training and education. Wildlife and ecosystems are increasingly having to be managed in order to save and maintain biological diversity. Veterinarians have a crucial role to play towards the maintenance of wildlife health as part of a multi-disciplinary wildlife management team.

Résumé

La pression démographique humaine, la perte d'habitat, la dégradation de l'environnement et la chasse illégale ont eu comme résultat, en Afrique, une perte de la biodiversité et une quasi extinction de certaines espèces. Le dilemme pour l'Afrique est l'équilibre entre conservation et développement. Si la faune sauvage ne doit pas devenir une relique du passé, elle doit avoir plus qu'une valeur esthètique. Elle doit contribuer aux mieux-être des populations qui vivent prés de ces ressources. En fait, une gestion appropriée de la biodiversité jetterait les bases d'un futur plus positif pour les populations rurales d'Afrique, la clé étant l'adoption d'une philosophie de gestion adaptive. Cet article fait la revue de l'utilisation renouvelable des ressources en faune sauvage et de la contribution positive de la profession vétérinaire au maintien de la santé de la faune sauvage africaine. Ces contributions ont porté sur les aspects vétérinaires de la gestion et de la recherche sur la faune, la surveillance épidemiologique et la prophylaxie, la formation et l'éducation. Faune sauvage et écosystèmes devront ètre de plus en plus gérés en vue du sauvetage et du maintien de la biodiversité. Les vétérinaires ont un rôle crucial á jouer dans le maintien de santé de la faune sauvage au sein d'une équipe multidisciplinaire de gestion faunistique.

Resumen

La presión demográfica, la pérdida del hábitat, la degradación del medio ambiente y la caza ilegal han causado en Africa la disminución de la biodiversidad y la práctica extinción de algunas especies de la fauna. Africa se enfrenta al dilema de equilibrar conservación y desarrollo. Para que la fauna salvaje no se convierta en una reliquia del pasado es necesario que su valor no sea tan solo estético. La fauna salvaje debe contribuir al bienestar material de la gente que vive junto a ella. En realidad, una gestión adecuada de la biodiversidad sentaría las bases de un futuro mejor para los habitantes del medio rural de Africa y el punto clave consistiría en adoptar una filosofia de gestión activa y adaptada a la situación. En este artículo se hace una revisión del uso sostenido de la fauna salvaje y de como la profesión veterinaria contribuye positivamente a la gestión sanitaria de la fauna en Africa. Estas contribuciones se han realizado base de incrementar los aspectos veterinarios en la gestión e investigación de la fauna, mediante la prevención y vigilancia de enfermedades, y a través de la educación y formación técnica. Cada vez más, la fauna y los ecosistemas deben ser gestionados para salvar y mantener la diversidad biológica. Como parte de un equipo multidicciplinar de gestión de la fauna, los veterinarios tienen un papel crucial en el mantenimiento del status sanitario de la fauna.

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Kock, M.D. Wildlife, People and development: Veterinary contributions to wildlife health and resource management in Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 28, 68–80 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02250729

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Keywords

  • Como
  • Adaptive Management
  • Wildlife Management
  • Rural People
  • Wildlife Species