Connecting Animal Health, Livelihoods, and Conservation

Healthy domestic animals can benefit both people and wildlife. In Madagascar, dogs, cats, and chickens can be affected by infectious diseases and may also serve as sources of pathogens that can spread to wildlife. At the same time, limited access to healthy livestock and poultry can increase reliance on wild animals as a source of food.

Our work supports communities by providing spay and neuter services and vaccinations for dogs, cats, and chickens. These efforts aim to improve domestic animal health, reduce the risk of disease transmission to threatened wildlife, and increase the availability of healthy sources of protein for families. By supporting household livelihoods and food security, we hope to reduce some of the pressures that lead people to rely on wildlife and forest resources.

Our research complements these efforts by studying how diseases circulate among domestic animals and wildlife in the region. We evaluate the effects of vaccination, sterilization, and other preventive measures on domestic animal health and disease transmission. Ultimately, our goal is to identify practical, community-based approaches that improve animal health, support local livelihoods, and contribute to the conservation of Madagascar's threatened wildlife.