Training Workshop on Wildlife Disease Surveillance held in Liberia

In regions like West Africa, where rich biodiversity intersects with communities and livestock, early detection of wildlife health threats such as diseases, pathogens, and toxic agents, is crucial to better prevent outbreaks affecting both people and animals.

Effective wildlife health surveillance is not only key to safeguarding human and animal health, but also vital to inform nature conservation, and for protecting ecosystems and livelihoods. Liberia, for instance, recognised these potential benefits to protect its people and animals and hosted a three-day workshop focused on enhancing wildlife health surveillance in Tubmanburg City, Bomi, Liberia, from 8-10 March, 2025 bringing together over 30 participants from key national and international organisations.

The workshop, part of a broader initiative to strengthen One Health approaches, was organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in partnership with The Forestry Development Authority of Liberia (FDA), the Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group (WHSG). The workshop was hosted at the Forestry Training Institute of Liberia.

Strengthening Surveillance Capabilities

The workshop’s participants came from a range of organisations, including the FDA, SCNL, the Ministry of Agriculture (including the Epidemiology Unit and Central Veterinary Laboratory) of Liberia, Liberia One Health Coordination Platform, IUCN, WOAH, Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN), and the University of Liberia. WOAH Wildlife Focal Points from Ghana and from Liberia also contributed their expertise, supporting cross-border dialogue and shared learning.  

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to engage with the Guidelines for the Surveillance of Diseases, Pathogens, and Toxic Agents in Free-Ranging Wildlife. Released in September 2024, these guidelines aim to support the implementation of national wildlife surveillance programs and promote a unified understanding of health monitoring in wildlife. The guidelines, developed by IUCN and WOAH, are designed to assist countries in strengthening surveillance systems through a One Health approach. 

The workshop also provided insights into Liberia’s progress in wildlife health surveillance. The country’s One Health coordination initiatives and One Health trainings for protected area and allied staff have laid the groundwork for current initiatives. Liberia’s rangers are interested in contributing to regular wildlife health surveillance, but there is a recognised need for further training and more structured systems. 

This initiative is timely. The guidelines will assist us to build a wildlife health surveillance system which currently does not exist and enhance our performance in activities related to WOAH and the National One Health Coordination Platform in Liberia.

Abednego Gbarway, WOAH Focal Point for Wildlife, Wildlife Manager, Forestry Development Authority, Liberia.

Collaborative effort for Wildlife Health

Workshop sessions covered key topics such as wildlife health surveillance in Liberia and Ghana, stakeholder mapping and workflow from field to laboratory,  designing surveillance plans and defining objectives in line with the eight steps in the guidelines. A field scoping component explored several different wildlife and environmental contexts for surveillance to inform action. 

The event also featured a visit to Liberia’s Central Veterinary Laboratory and the University of Liberia’s mobile high-tech laboratory. These visits provided participants with a closer look at the diagnostic capabilities available for wildlife health surveillance.  

In addition, field visits to a nearby wetland were used to design an environmental sampling plan for the surveillance of avian influenza viruses in wild birds, providing a practical application of the training. 

Finally, a hands-on session featuring the ALERT Game resulted in high engagement from participants. Developed under the EBO-SURSY project, the ALERT Game aims to better engage surveillance systems stakeholders in intersectoral collaboration and to highlight the importance of collaborative efforts to address wildlife health issues. 

I felt that participants had a clear understanding of The ALERT Game, and that experience influenced the development of several disease surveillance plans during the simulation exercise.

Meyir Ziekah, WOAH Wildlife Focal Point, Zoo Veterinarian, Forestry Commission (wildlife division), Ghana.

Key Recommendations for Liberia’s Wildlife Health Surveillance

At the conclusion of the workshop, several recommendations were proposed to improve wildlife health surveillance in Liberia. Among these were calls for: 

1. The development of comprehensive training programs for both office-based and field-based staff on wildlife health and One Health courses, especially hands-on sample management. 

2. The establishment of national wildlife health surveillance systems, particularly in and around protected areas. 

3. A National Wildlife Health Surveillance Strategy to coordinate efforts across the country. 

4. Strengthening collaboration with neighboring countries in the Mano River Union, including Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. 

5. Provision of protective equipment and logistical support for safe inspections at checkpoints and transporting confiscated animals to sanctuaries. 

6. Creation of a national database for wildlife health and a harmonized reporting system across key ministries. 

The workshop marked a significant step forward in enhancing Liberia’s wildlife disease surveillance capabilities. As participants continue to build on the knowledge and skills gained during the training, it is clear that cross-sectoral collaboration and international support will be crucial in ensuring the long-term health of wildlife in the region. 

This work was funded by BMZ (Guidelines) and the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade through GIZ (Workshop). Photos Credit: Kevin Smith/IUCN