Webinar: From Knowledge to Prevention – Reducing Toxic Threats to Wildlife

Replay

Every year, wildlife faces silent but devastating threats from pharmaceuticals seeping into waterways, veterinary drugs disrupting ecosystems, and heavy metals like lead poisoning animals across the globe. Yet, behind these challenges lie groundbreaking solutions, scientific progress, and inspiring success stories that prove prevention is possible. On this World Wildlife Day on 3^rd March 2026, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) brought together leading experts to explore how science, policy, and education can turn the tide against toxic threats to biodiversity.

This one-hour webinar highlighted solutions and examples of positive outcomes that can be applied and implemented to protect wildlife health. We focused into three critical issues: the behavioral and ecological impacts of pharmaceutical pollution on aquatic species, the devastating yet reversible decline of vulture populations due to livestock NSAIDs and the global fight against lead toxicity, where the development of non-lead alternatives and regulatory processes are providing significant opportunities for health protection for wildlife, people and domestic animals. Each session showcased real-world solutions, from policy reforms to community-led conservation.

The webinar was offered in English with simultaneous translation in Spanish and French.

Agenda

Time	Topic	Speakers
12.00 – 12.05 pm	Opening remarks	Dr Billy Karesh Chair of the WOAH Working Group on Wildlife
12.05 – 12.15 pm	Effects of Phamaceutical Residues on Aquatic Animals: How Phamaceutical Pollution is Shaping Aquatic Behaviour and Biodiversity	Dr Mwansa Songe Member of the WOAH Working Group on Wildlife
12.15 – 12.25 pm	Use of NSAIDs in livestock and its impact on vulture population with examples of educational and regulatory solutions and success stories	Prof. Rhys Green Honorary Professor of Conservation Science in – Conservation Science Group Department of Zoology – Cambridge Conservation Initiative
12.25 – 12.35 pm	Lead poisoning of wildlife – the solution that benefits us all	Dr Ruth Cromie WWT Research Fellow, CMS COP-Appointed Councillor for Wildlife Health
12.35 – 12.50 pm	Discussion	All
12.50 – 1.00 pm	Conclusion	Alexandre Fediaevsky Head of the Preparedness and Resilience Department – WOAH

Presentation Download

Effects of Phamaceutical Residues on Aquatic Animals: How Phamaceutical Pollution is Shaping Aquatic Behaviour and Biodiversity

Use of NSAIDs in livestock and its impact on vulture populations with examples of
educational and regulatory solutions and success stories

Lead poisoning of wildlife – the solution that benefits us all