Health Monitoring for Management, Welfare, and Conservation of Animals In Situ and Ex Situ

Health monitoring plays a fundamental role in understanding and managing animal populations, whether in natural ecosystems or controlled environments. In recent decades, growing environmental pressures and increased awareness of animal welfare have highlighted the need for robust and integrative health assessment approaches. Traditional methods, often invasive or limited in scope, are being complemented by emerging tools such as non-invasive sampling, remote sensing, and behavioural indicators. Despite these advances, challenges persist in standardising methodologies, integrating multidisciplinary data, and applying findings across in situ and ex situ contexts. Addressing these gaps is essential to improving conservation outcomes, optimising management strategies, and ensuring high welfare standards across diverse species and settings.This Research Topic aims to address current limitations and opportunities in animal health monitoring by promoting integrative, multidisciplinary approaches that link veterinary science, ecology, and animal welfare. We seek to highlight recent advances in diagnostic tools, physiological and behavioural indicators, and data integration methods that can improve the assessment of animal health across different contexts.A key goal is to bridge the gap between in situ and ex situ research, fostering knowledge exchange that can enhance both conservation strategies and management practices. By bringing together studies on wildlife populations, captive animals, and reintroduction programs, this collection will explore how health monitoring can inform decision-making processes, mitigate risks, and improve outcomes.Ultimately, this Research Topic aims to support the development of standardised, scalable, and evidence-based monitoring frameworks that contribute to the long-term sustainability, welfare, and conservation of animal populations worldwide.This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, short communications, and methodological papers addressing health monitoring in animals across in situ and ex situ contexts. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Non-invasive and minimally invasive health assessment techniques • Physiological, hormonal, and immunological biomarkers • Behavioural indicators of health and welfare • Disease surveillance and epidemiology in wildlife and captive populations • Health monitoring in conservation and reintroduction programs • Integration of ecological and veterinary data • Technological innovations (e.g., bio-loggers, remote sensing, AI-based monitoring) • Welfare assessment frameworks and indicators Submissions that adopt interdisciplinary approaches and contribute to applied conservation, management, and animal welfare practices are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: Cristiano Azevedo, Cristiane Schilbach Pizzutto, Pedro Nacib Jorge-Neto, Ivana Schork Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81116/health-monitoring-for-management-welfare-and-conservation-of-animals-in-situ-and-ex-situ