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Environment & Nature Conservation

Humans Promote Cancer in Wildlife

Wildlife can indeed develop cancer - however, since cancer is generally a disease of old age and life in the wild is often brutal and short, few animals manage to live long enough to die of cancer.

Editorial Wild beim Wild — 1 September 2023

One in five humans dies of cancer

The increasing human impact on the environment is also responsible for a growing number of cancer cases in wildlife.

This was the conclusion reached by researchers at Arizona State University. One in five humans dies of cancer. Among many animals living in the wild, the proportion of tumour diseases is equally high, researchers at the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York have found.

Phenomenon poorly researched

«Cancer in wild animals has so far been almost entirely unexplored. The factors that negatively affect the human body also have a very real impact on wild animals,» says researcher Mathieu Giraudeau.

Pesticides increase cancer risk

The use of pesticides in agriculture is another serious factor that can increase the risk of cancer in wildlife. When wild animals come into contact with pesticide residues, this can lead to adverse effects on their health, including an increased risk of cancer.

It is important to promote environmentally friendly practices and ensure the protection of wildlife. By protecting wildlife and preserving healthy ecosystems, we can help reduce the risk of cancer in both humans and wildlife.

More on the topic of hobby hunting: In our dossier on hunting we compile fact checks, analyses and background reports.

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