Conservation medicine or “one health medicine” exists at the intersection of animal health, human health, and ecosystem health. It differs from classical public health epidemiology in that it aims to protect and improve ecosystem and animal health, in addition to human health.

Zoonotic diseases (diseases shared by humans and animals) and the emergence of new diseases are particularly important when threatened and endangered great ape populations are involved. The effective practice of One Health medicine demands an integrated team approach involving wildlife and livestock veterinarians, local physicians, public health professionals, ecologists, politicians and communities. Common interests, improved data collection, and economies of scale argue for combining health surveillance and delivery efforts. This team approach must be tailored to the infrastructure and sophistication of the host country’s human and livestock health systems, and must also be appropriate for the size and characteristics of the great ape populations.

The Mountain Gorilla One Health Program’s wildlife veterinarians take a “one health” approach to gorilla health, and are highly successful because of their training in wildlife and livestock medicine as well as zoonotic and emerging disease issues.