In the 21st century, the human society is facing serious threat and challenges of infectious diseases under accelerated climate change and intensified human activities. A majority of emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases in humans is originated from wild or domestic animals, and in return imposes a big threat to biodiversity conservation and livestock production. In order to have a better prevention and control of zoonotic diseases, it is crucial to understand the complex interaction patterns of disease transmission between humans, animals, vectors and pathogens under the rapid change of climate, other drivers of global change, and society by following a “One Health” approach. At the same time, world collaboration is essential to manage zoonotic diseases because animals, vectors and pathogens move freely in the world without boundaries.

Wildlife diseases are significant components of zoonoes, and they are playing increasingly important roles in causing pandemics of infectious diseases in recent decades. As compared to diseases in humans or domestic animals, wildlife diseases are poorly studied due to the vast diversity of their pathogens, hosts, vectors and habitats as well as global shortage of investment for research. Thus, there is an urgent need to strengthen the capacity of research on wildlife diseases, and international collaborations, in order to promote the prevention and control of zoonotic disease for a heathy world for both people and wildlife. 

The International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS, http://www.globalzoology.org.cn/) is a non-government organization aiming to promote international cooperation in field of zoology by integrating multiple disciplines covering animals, plants, microorganisms, climate change, and human activities. To promote international collaborations on studies of wildlife diseases, and to bridge the gaps in prevention and control of diseases of humans, domestic animals and wild animals, ISZS is developing a Wildlife Diseases Research Network (WDRN) in the world, with collaboration of its partner such as Working Group on Zoonotic Disease (WGZD) of International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) (https://iubs.org/). WDRN is composed of a steering committee, a scientific committee, research expert network and collaborative partners. WDRN will hold annual symposia, workshops, training courses and publish an annual report on wildlife diseases. With support from the WDRN’s expert teams and its partners, WDRN aims to build a database and information center to facilitate the research, monitoring, prevention and control of wildlife diseases around the world. WDRN is devoted to work with IUBS, WHO, WOAH (OIE), FAO, and other organizations to promote prevention and control of zoonotic diseases in the world.