Five years after Covid, India moves to strengthen wildlife disease surveillance

Five years after Covid-19 emerged sparking a global health crisis, India is advancing a National Wildlife Health Policy (NWHP) to strengthen disease surveillance and early detection systems for zoonotic threats.

The policy, currently under ministerial review, proposes an integrated wildlife disease monitoring network, expanded research initiatives, and the establishment of new diagnostic laboratories, according to a national daily.

With more than 60% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originating in animals, the ‘One Health’ approach — linking human, animal, and environmental health — has gained urgency. The NWHP will align with the Centre’s National One Health Mission, which coordinates cross-sectoral efforts in pandemic preparedness and disease response.

India’s vast biodiversity makes wildlife health monitoring a critical priority. The country has 1,014 protected areas covering over 5.32% of its geographical area, hosting diverse terrestrial, avian, and marine species. Wildlife often serves as a reservoir for pathogens, underscoring the need for systematic surveillance both in the wild and in captivity.

The policy's drafting is being led by the Environment Ministry’s Central Zoo Authority (CZA), with input from the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser and support from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. A core working group, including these entities and the private consultancy firm Ernst & Young, has shaped the policy through expert consultations.

Seven specialized working groups formulated recommendations on key themes, including disease surveillance, wildlife health research, capacity building, and regulatory frameworks. One major recommendation is a comprehensive wildlife surveillance system covering terrestrial, marine, and avian ecosystems.

A key pillar of this initiative is the National Referral Centre for Wildlife (NRC-W), whose foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Junagadh, Gujarat, on March 3. The centre will serve as a national hub for investigating wildlife mortalities, responding to outbreaks, and advancing diagnostic and treatment capabilities.

Currently, wildlife disease monitoring in India is fragmented across multiple agencies. While the Environment Ministry oversees wildlife conservation, disease surveillance also involves the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry. Independent efforts by wildlife biologists further add to the challenge of coordination. Experts say a unified policy will bridge these gaps, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration.

Among the policy’s core recommendations is the creation of a National Wildlife Health Database and a Wildlife Health Information System. The database will act as a centralized repository for real-time and historical surveillance data, integrating inputs from animal husbandry and human health sectors. The information system is expected to streamline disease surveillance and enable facility-level reporting with spatial-temporal tracking.

Experts involved in drafting the policy point to existing models like the National Animal Disease Referral Expert System and the National Animal Disease Reporting System, which use data-driven forecasting to predict and prevent outbreaks. A wildlife-focused system could work in tandem with these frameworks, , according to them.

The policy also proposes the establishment of satellite diagnostic labs near key forest habitats to enhance wildlife disease diagnostics and facilitate early detection. These labs will play a crucial role in ensuring swift responses to emerging threats, reinforcing India’s ability to prevent future pandemics at the wildlife-human interface.