Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance & Vertebrate Ecotoxicology

There are two programmes covered by this MoA between Natural England and the Institute of Zoology – Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance and Vertebrate Ecotoxicology. Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance Since 1999, Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme (SRP) has funded a number of conservation translocations and re-introductions. The Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) have undertaken the necessary disease risk analyses and health surveillance for these projects including the monitoring of animal health before, during and after release. This project will enable the appropriate disease risk analysis to be undertaken for animals that are to be released in this financial year and the continued monitoring of those animals that have been released, where appropriate. This is necessary whether the origin of these species are ex-situ populations destined for reintroductions, reintroduced populations or wild populations. It will ensure that Natural England continues to follow high standards when undertaking conservation translocations including meeting our obligations under the internationally agreed IUCN guidelines for re-introductions and the DEFRA code for reintroductions and other conservation translocations in England. Vertebrate Ecotoxicology – Beavers and Red Kites There are large gaps in our understanding on the exposure and effects of terrestrial species to chemicals of concern (e.g. pesticides, biocides, heavy metals, and persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals). This project is in two parts to further our understanding of these chemicals in wildlife: one concerning the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) and the other the red kite (Milvus milvus).