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The WHA Emergencies Program was established in 2022 as part of a 4-year Commonwealth-funded One Health Surveillance Initiative program that aims to protect native wildlife and ecosystems and enhance prevention, detection and response to emerging disease threats.

The goal of the WHA Emergencies Program is to work with others to safeguard the health, welfare and biodiversity of Australian wildlife in all emergencies using a collaborative One Health approach.

We aim to:

• • be a trusted advisor and a national source of wildlife knowledge & technical support in Australia's emergency systems.
  • be a key strategic partner in prevention and preparedness activities for wildlife in emergencies.
  • guide effective alignment, coordination and communication of wildlife activities during and after emergencies.

For information on reporting an emergency disease or wildlife incident: click here.

WHA defines wildlife as "managed and unmanaged populations of native and feral animals, including amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Invertebrates and free-living fish are also included but are considered of lower priority." 

In alignment with the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience 2019 definition of an emergency, WHA defines a wildlife emergency as an event, actual or imminent, which endangers or threatens the safety and health of wildlife, and which requires a significant and coordinated response.

A declared emergency is an emergency that is recognised under legislative arrangements for emergency management. In Australia, emergency management generally (but not always) rests with states and territories. Examples of declared emergencies that may result in a wildlife emergency include severe bushfires and oil spills. See also Emergency Wildlife Disease Response Guidelines.

Not all wildlife disease events are emergencies. For example, a disease event (e.g. an environmental toxicity, or an endemic infectious disease such as beak and feather disease) may have significant impact on a species but may not be considered an emergency if the response is managed within normal activities. Note that wildlife disease is not limited to infectious disease, and may include anything that disrupts wildlife health.

Not all wildlife emergencies will be declared emergencies. For example, a heat stress event in flying-foxes may have major impact on wildlife and may require a significant or coordinated response within the wildlife sphere, but is unlikely to endanger human life, property or the environment in ways that meet the criteria for a declared emergency.

Not all declared emergencies will result in a wildlife emergency. For example, an urban fire or a notifiable disease outbreak may be declared an emergency by jurisdictional authorities, but will not constitute a wildlife emergency unless the safety and health of wildlife are threatened in a way that requires a significant and coordinated response.

For information on reporting an emergency disease or wildlife incident: click here.

WHA has developed a guidance document which identifies the Principles of Effective Management of Wildlife in Emergencies, using a One Health approach. The document draws on wildlife emergency response plans and reviews of emergency response principles relating to wildlife and animal management across all hazards. During a wildlife emergency, an approach that prioritises these principles in all phases of the emergency cycle (prevention, preparedness, response and recovery) will achieve better outcomes for humans and ecosystems, as well as wildlife and the response itself.

For information on reporting an emergency disease or wildlife incident: click here.