Member Spotlight! Annie Pagé

Name: Anne-Sophie (Annie) Pagé

Institution: Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Year and type of graduate student program(s)/additional training:

Graduated with a BVSc in 2021 and have just finished a wildlife pathology residency in August 2026. 

What is it that attracted you to work on wildlife originally?

I was lucky enough to grow up on the Otago Peninsula, one of the most wildlife-dense parts of New Zealand. My mum is a marine biologist and my dad was a maritime archaeologist early in his career, so I grew up in a very ocean-focused household where curiosity about the natural world was part of everyday life. I think that shaped my priorities long before I consciously chose a career. Being surrounded by species that occur nowhere else in the world, in ecosystems that felt both intact and incredibly vulnerable, made me want to contribute to protecting them.

What has attracted you to focus on pathology?

Whilst working in clinical practice, I was fortunate to have been exposed to large wildlife caseloads and became involved in the establishment of the Tasmania Wildlife Hospital. I found that the opportunities to help individual animals incredibly fulfilling, but I increasingly felt frustrated by how little impact I could have at a species level at a time of such rapid ecological change. Pathology seemed like a logical pathway into that bigger picture. By investigating mortality, we can identify patterns, emerging threats and population-level pressures within threatened species, and hopefully use that information to influence conservation management and prevent further decline.

How can WDA-A members find out more information about this field?

The best way is to get involved with people already working in wildlife health. Attend WDA-A conferences and workshops and get to know those in attendance. Look for opportunities with wildlife hospitals, universities, government agencies and conservation organisations. I would also encourage students to think beyond traditional veterinary pathways. Wildlife health is inherently interdisciplinary and there are so many ways to contribute and make an impact. 

What are some key reflections for you about your work in the wildlife health field in Australasia?  

One of the biggest things I have learned is that wildlife health is rarely about one disease or one species. It sits within an incredibly complicated system involving climate, habitat, introduced predators, food availability, human activity, infectious disease and population dynamics. Australasia is an extraordinary place to work in wildlife health because we have such unique and vulnerable fauna, but that also means the consequences of seemingly small changes can be enormous. I am increasingly conscious of the threat posed by emerging diseases, particularly high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5N1 bird flu). Watching the devastating impacts bird flu has had on wildlife populations, particularly within South America and the Southern Ocean makes the prospect of its introduction to New Zealand and Australia, and our Sub-Antarctic islands, deeply concerning. Our Sub-Antarctic ecosystems contain globally significant populations of seabirds and marine mammals, many of which breed in dense colonies and have very little exposure to diseases that are widespread elsewhere. The remoteness that makes these places so special also makes an outbreak incredibly difficult to respond to once it arrives. It has reinforced for me how important preparedness, surveillance and understanding baseline wildlife health are in the face of a crisis like H5 bird flu.

What types of day-to-day decisions would be beneficial for conservation in Australia and New Zealand?

I think some of the most important decisions are actually quite practical: what do we monitor, where do we put our resources, and how quickly do we respond when something changes? H5 bird flu has really highlighted the importance of having systems in place before an emerging disease reaches our shores. We need strong wildlife mortality surveillance, clear pathways for sample collection and testing, good communication between wildlife health professionals and government agencies, and contingency plans for responding to unusual mortality events. More broadly, I would like to see wildlife health integrated more consistently into conservation management. Decisions around pest control, translocations, captive breeding, habitat restoration and species recovery should consider disease and population health alongside ecology.

How has being involved in the WDA-A section helped you during your career/education journey and what advice might you have for prospective students?

The WDA-A has given me a valuable community within what can otherwise feel like a small and geographically dispersed field. I have met people working across pathology, veterinary medicine, ecology, epidemiology and conservation, and those connections have really broadened how I think about wildlife health. For students, my biggest advice is to follow your curiosity rather than trying to map out your entire career. Say yes to opportunities, volunteer, ask questions and engage in conversations - you never know what might arise from it. 

What is your favourite non-scientific activity and how do you find time for it?

I have a huge love of getting out and exploring wild and remote places, whether that is through long-distance hiking, expedition guiding or scuba diving. I relish any opportunity to experience healthy ecosystems firsthand - to see wildlife thriving in places that still feel truly wild. These experiences are also what keep me grounded when the emotional toll of wildlife health can become overwhelming. 

It is easy to get bogged down when considering the future for wildlife - what helps you stay motivated and positive in this field?

I think you have to find a balance between acknowledging how serious the threats facing wildlife are without becoming paralysed by them. Working in wildlife health, you see a lot of mortality and decline firsthand, and it can be difficult not to carry that with you. I am encouraged by the resilience of wildlife and by seeing what can happen when conservation efforts are successful. Ultimately, I try to focus on what I can contribute. I may not be able to solve the broader problems facing wildlife, but I can contribute good science, and hopefully provide information that allows us to make better decisions for the populations that remain.

Anything else you want to highlight/talk about? Favourite WDA-A memory?

Regardless of the location, or venue, WDA-A conferences are just like reliving school camp, except you are surrounded by a bunch of wonderfully quirky, passionate people talking enthusiastically about their life’s work late at night while out spotlighting for local wildlife. You will struggle to find a more empowering space!