XIV International Conference on Wildlife Health and Conservation

We were pleased to take part in the XIV International Conference, where we contributed to the session on Zoological, Aquarium and Wildlife Medicine with a presentation entitled Parasites of European bison: relevance for health and conservation.

The talk focused on the importance of parasitic infections in European bison, a species of major conservation interest in Europe. Although parasites are often discussed mainly in relation to disease, their significance is broader and more complex. In European bison, parasitic fauna can influence individual health, population dynamics, management decisions, and conservation outcomes. Understanding these host–parasite relationships is therefore essential not only for veterinary care, but also for long-term conservation planning.

The conference offered an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues working in wildlife health, conservation, zoological medicine, and rehabilitation. Meetings like this are valuable because they bring together different perspectives and remind us that conservation medicine depends on an integrated view of animal health, ecology, and management.