Research overview: disease risk assessment in felid translocations and reintroductions

Moving wild cats for reintroduction or genetic management carries the danger of moving pathogens with them, making disease risk assessment a core part of conservation translocations. This overview surveys the protocols used to screen animals before release, the pathogens of greatest concern such as feline leukemia and immunodeficiency viruses, panleukopenia and Toxoplasma, and the tension between connecting populations and introducing disease. It examines quarantine, testing, vaccination and post-release monitoring, drawing on programs for the Iberian lynx and others. The synthesis connects veterinary risk analysis to conservation planning. It aims to help readers understand why every translocation involves weighing genetic and demographic benefits against disease hazards, and how structured risk assessment seeks to prevent well-intentioned movements from triggering outbreaks in vulnerable felid populations.