Love Them & Leave Them: science-based rationale for a campaign at the public health-conservation interface

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Jan. 23, 2025

Wild animals have been implicated as the source for disease outbreaks in humans (e.g., bubonic plague, Ebola, Hendra virus). Public health messaging intended to mitigate these zoonotic risks can inadvertently induce fear of wildlife, thereby resulting wildlife culling and habitat destruction. We propose a science-based social marketing campaign – Love Them & Leave protect people wildlife. This One Health will be primarily implemented by public communicators who work with government officials and/or local communities. The campaign’s six key messages emphasize inter-linkages between human well-being pandemic prevention encourage target audiences appreciate (love) while refraining from touching or occupying places that inhabit feed (leave them … alone). provide guidance tailoring global vision ecological socio-cultural contexts. is responsive recent call multilateral bodies governments prevent pandemics at source.

Language: Английский

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Responsible biophilia for zoonosis prevention through a cultural lens

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: April 11, 2025

Human affinity for nature (“biophilia”) brings substantial health and ecological benefits fosters environmental stewardship. However, close human-nature interactions can lead to conservation challenges increase the risk of zoonoses. This paradox raises critical questions about how balance public health, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, understanding these dilemmas presents opportunities integrated approaches seeking synergies rather than trade-offs. perspective explores complexities intricate by examining cases that demonstrated interconnections between biophilia zoonotic risks their implications local livelihood. Acknowledging role social cultural perspectives in shaping interactions, this highlights importance integrating traditional knowledge practices tailored communications into community-centered initiatives mitigation. The discussion proposes a responsible approach embraces as primary strategy zoonosis prevention. By fostering through transdisciplinary culturally relevant approach, we align livelihood, transforming biophilia-based interaction community resilience.

Language: Английский

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Veterinary clinicians as One Health messengers: opportunities for preventing zoonoses while promoting biophilia in the United States

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: May 19, 2025

One Health is a transdisciplinary approach to health science that recognizes the linked and interdependent ecology of environmental, human, animal health. Effective communication zoonotic disease risks through framework presents an opportunity both prevent emerging infectious diseases enhance public appreciation for wildlife conservation, herein termed biophilia. While veterinary practitioners have historically played pivotal role in structural changes profession—including dominance companion practice, fee-for-service models, corporate consolidation—limit their potential as communicators, thus conservation advocates. Additionally, human-animal bond often singularly framed resource pet owners animals, neglecting its broader within communities connection other social, ecological, epidemiological networks include human populations. This article outlines key constraints facing veterinarians communicators proposes two solutions integrate preventive zoonoses messaging biophilia promotion clinical practice: (1) should be reconceptualized sciences community-level akin natural capital, (2) extension workforce expanded agents facilitating local information exchange with veterinarians. Through these solutions, he profession can further principal Health. Such efforts would empower communicate about ensuring principles are embedded everyday interactions community initiatives.

Language: Английский

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Art can provide a means for promoting biophilia as an aspect of zoonoses risk communication

Frontiers in Conservation Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Dec. 23, 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a call to action for scientists find new and creative ways prevent future pandemics. Because value-based emotions underly human behavior, scientific facts alone have proven be poor motivator change the behaviors that increase zoonotic spillover risk. Emotions can translate in psychological stances such biophobia, fear of or aversion nature, biophilia, appreciation nature. Educating public about species may pose risk unintended effect inducing biophobia into psyche. This lead increased zoonoses In this Perspective, I make case strategically employing art an effective method communicate while promoting biophilia. Using communication has been explored by various fields but not sufficiently applied infectious disease messaging.

Language: Английский

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