Photo Exhibition: 50 years of Wildlife Science

The Animal and Plant Health Agency's (APHA's) National Wildlife Management Centre at Woodchester Park in Gloucestershire is marking 50 years of wildlife science protecting animals, humans, and the environment. This photographic exhibition showcases iconic wildlife images that reflect the APHA's work.

The centre brings together scientists, vets, ecologists and pathologists working at the intersection of wildlife health, farm animal health, human health and environmental protection.

The work carried out over the last half century has spanned some of the most pressing challenges facing nature and agriculture. This includes developing badger vaccination programmes to protect wildlife and livestock from bovine TB, monitoring emerging diseases in wildlife before they can impact farming or public health, tracking environmental threats from pollutants and toxins, and tackling invasive non-native species.

Over 75% of emerging diseases originate from animals, meaning the centre is at the heart of APHA's work to protect human and wildlife health with scientists taking a "One Health" approach working closely with the UK Health Security Agency.

The government's work to maintain biosecurity and protect the country from potentially devastating diseases helps avoid significant economic costs. APHA also contributes to large-scale research into the effects of climate change on diseases and biodiversity, working in collaboration with universities and institutions globally.