As zoonotic diseases like avian flu and COVID-19 continue to threaten both human and wildlife populations, a new study introduces an innovative framework for disease detection—using wild animals themselves as sentinels. By equipping wildlife with biologging devices that track movement and behavior in near-real-time, researchers can detect early signs of illness, monitor disease spread, and inform public health interventions before outbreaks reach crisis levels. The study outlines six key applications of this approach and calls for global collaboration across health, conservation, and environmental sectors to make biologging-based surveillance a central tool in the fight against future pandemics.

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When the next pandemic threat looms, help may come from an unexpected source: wild animals. In a groundbreaking new study led by Prof. Ran Nathan from the Movement Ecology Lab at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, researchers propose a bold new approach to detecting and managing disease outbreaks—by tracking wildlife in near real-time.

Published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, the study presents a comprehensive framework for using animal movement data—gathered through tiny, wearable biologging devices—to identify signs of disease before outbreaks spiral out of control. It’s a shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention, and it could revolutionize how we approach zoonotic diseases like avian flu and even future COVID-like pandemics.

“The winter 2021/22 avian flu outbreak at the Hula Valley was Israel’s largest wildlife outbreak, killing 8,000 cranes and threatening human health. At that time, we had 10 GPS-tracked cranes, some of which died. The mass mortality scene at the Agamon Hula was devastating, but the data from the tracked cranes provided unprecedented insights for guiding rapid management decisions. This prompted us to develop a general framework applicable to multiple diseases and host species.” said Prof. Nathan. “Thanks to advances in biologging, we can now track wild animal in near-real-time, far faster and more effectively than before. This allows early detection of outbreaks, targeted mitigation, and the potential to save both human and animal lives.”

The framework lays out six ways biologging can be used to fight disease, including:

• Early warning systems that detect abnormal movement patterns linked to infection;
• Real-time alerts when tagged animals enter sensitive zones;
• Behavioral changes that signal sickness—even before visible symptoms appear;
• Insights into how diseases spread across landscapes and species;
• Data to guide interventions, from targeted surveillance to adjusting wildlife management policies;
• Predictive modeling of future outbreaks based on current movement and environmental data.

 

And while the technology is cutting-edge, the logic is simple: when animals start acting differently, they may be telling us something important.

This shift toward biologging-based surveillance isn’t just about animals—it’s a One Health approach that recognizes the deep interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health.

The study, co-authored by a multidisciplinary team including Idan Talmon, Sasha Pekarsky, Yoav Bartan, Nikki Thie (Hebrew University), Wayne M. Getz (UC Berkeley and University of KwaZulu-Natal), Pauline L. Kamath (University of Maine), and Rauri C.K. Bowie (UC Berkeley), calls for coordinated global investment in wildlife monitoring and stronger collaboration between health and conservation sectors.

“Imagine getting a push alert—not from a news outlet, but from a tracked animal—signalling that a deadly virus may be spreading,” Prof. Nathan explained. “This isn’t science fiction. It’s the future of public health.”

While challenges remain—including cost, data management, and the need for international cooperation—the authors argue that the benefits far outweigh the risks. With the increasing frequency of zoonotic disease outbreaks, the question isn’t whether we can afford to do this. It’s whether we can afford not to.

 

Thousands of dying and dead cranes scattered across Hula Lake during the peak of the avian influenza outbreak, December 27, 2021. (Credit - Prof. Ran Nathan, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

The Movement Ecology Lab team collects samples from dead cranes at Hula Lake during the peak of the avian influenza outbreak, December 27, 2021 (Credit - Hadas Kohner, Israel Nature and Parks Authority)

The research paper titled “Using wild-animal tracking for detecting and managing disease outbreaks” is now available in Trends in Ecology & Evolution and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2025.05.004.

Researchers:

Idan Talmon¹, Sasha Pekarsky¹, Yoav Bartan¹, Nikki Thie¹, Wayne M. Getz^2,3, Pauline L. Kamath^4,5, Rauri C.K. Bowie^6,7, and Ran Nathan¹

Institutions:

1. Movement Ecology Lab, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
2. Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, USA
3. School of Mathematical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
4. School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, USA
5. Maine Center for Genetics and the Environment, University of Maine, USA
6. Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, USA
7. Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, USA

For a century, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has been a beacon for visionary minds who challenge convention and shape the future. Founded by luminaries like Albert Einstein, who entrusted his intellectual legacy to the university, it is dedicated to advancing knowledge, cultivating leadership, and promoting diversity. Home to over 23,000 students from 90 countries, the Hebrew University drives much of Israel’s civilian scientific research and the commercialization of technologies through Yissum, its tech transfer company. Hebrew University’s groundbreaking contributions have been recognized with major international awards, including nine Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards, and a Fields Medal. Ranked 81st globally by the Shanghai Ranking (2024), Hebrew University marks a century of excellence in research, education, and innovation. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en.