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A tiger shown walking along the forest edge.

In the past century, the global tiger population has dwindled from over 100,000 to between 3,726 and 5,578 animals. In this literature review led by Cornell, researchers suggest disease surveillance is increasingly important as tiger populations decline and become more vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
A tiger lying down on the forest floor.

For Your Information

The contraction of the global tiger population over the last 100 years into small, often isolated subpopulations has made them increasingly vulnerable to the impact of disease. Despite this, the health of wild tigers continues to be insufficiently funded and explored.
Ana Pantín with sheep in Tajikistan.

I vividly remember the night before I left for Tajikistan; I was nervous, excited, and utterly exhausted. I had just finished wrapping graduation gifts for my roommates and had just about moved everything out of where I was living for the last two years (including my bed)....
Free-roaming dog shown curled up asleep on the ground.

For Your Information

Canine distemper virus is a global multi-host pathogen that can be fatal in a range of species. This latest study shows that the presence of free-roaming dogs around protected areas in Nepal could represent a source of infectious disease for transmission to local wildlife, including endangered tigers.
AA Bengal tiger walking through the jungle by R. Gilbert

Cornell researchers have confirmed the first cases of canine distemper virus in tigers and leopards in Nepal. This is significant, as both populations are already threatened and the virus can cause fatal neurological disease.
Indian leopard sitting in a tree

A new study led by Cornell and partners shows for the first time that leopards in Nepal are exposed to canine distemper virus, which could be contributing to increased human-leopard conflict.
Camera trap image of an adult dhole

Six years ago, on a regular workday, I was sitting at my desk tagging photos from a camera trap survey. Late in the afternoon, a picture of an uncanny species baffled me. It looked somewhat like a domestic dog, but taller and longer-bodied....
A golden lion tamarin shown on a branch of a tree.

The Cornell Wildlife Health Center's Dr. Martin Gilbert says infectious diseases present a growing conservation threat to wild species as populations become more fragmented.
Steve Osofsky standing by jeep in Bwabwata National Park

From Ithaca to the plains of southern Africa, the Cornell Wildlife Health Center is working to heal the natural world. Launched in 2020, the center was formed to unite Cornell’s leading wildlife health professionals under a common mission: to repair the fractured relationship between people and nature.
Two tigers shown in and along a river with two greater one-horned rhinos seen in the distance.

Video

At the end of a busy season researching how canine distemper virus affects Nepal’s tigers and leopards, Cornell Wildlife Health Center’s wild carnivore health specialist Dr. Martin Gilbert took a break to recharge his batteries with the wildlife of Bardia National Park.