Hematology as a Tool for Wildlife Health, Research and Conservation

<jats:p>Hematological reference values in wildlife are essential to health assessment, conservation biology, and evidence-based wildlife management. Hematology is one of the most widely used diagnostic tools in veterinary and ecological sciences because it provides information about anemia, infection, inflammation, immune function, hydration, and physiological responses to environmental changes. In wildlife medicine, where clinical signs are often complex to detect, blood parameters act as key biomarkers for identifying population-level health trends, assessing the effects of environmental stressors, and supporting interventions such as rehabilitation, translocation, and reintroduction. However, establishing reliable hematological reference intervals for free-ranging species presents both methodological and biological challenges. These limitations include restricted sample sizes, the influence of capture and handling stress, species-specific physiology, and natural variation linked to age, sex, reproductive status, seasonality, and habitat quality. Additional sources of variability arise from sample handling and storage, analytical differences between laboratories, and the limited validation of hematology analyzers for nondomestic species. Hematological data have wide practical applications in wildlife research and conservation. Several studies have described their value in monitoring threatened species, detecting sublethal impacts of pollution or climate change, investigating disease outbreaks, and supporting optimal animal welfare under human care. Looking ahead, advances in diagnostic technology, statistical approaches to reference interval determination, and the development of global hematology databases are expected to enhance the accuracy, accessibility, and usefulness of wildlife hematology. These emerging tools will enable researchers, veterinarians, and conservation practitioners to make better-informed decisions that will improve the health, resilience, and long-term survival of wildlife populations.</jats:p>