On October 4, the world marked World Animal Day. This year’s theme, Save Animals: Save the Planet, reminds us that the health of animals, people, and the environment is all connected. When animals suffer, we do too. When the planet is protected, all living things benefit.
In T&T and across the Caribbean, climate change is a daily reality. Hotter days, heavier rain and floods, stronger storms, and rising seas are changing the way we live and the way animals live too. If we pause and look around, we can see evidence in our pets, our farms, our forests, and even in the fish on our plates.
Animals on frontlines
of climate change
Animals are often the first to feel the effects of a changing climate. In our region, birds and bats are vital for pollination and mosquito and pest control. But intense rainfall, stronger storms, and rising temperatures destroy nesting sites and disrupt breeding cycles, making it harder for these creatures to survive. Coral reefs, home to countless sea creatures, bleach and die in warming seas.
Farm animals are also vulnerable. Farmers know that cows, pigs, and chickens don’t handle heat well. High temperatures reduce milk production and weaken animals against disease. Floods can damage pastures and water supplies, leaving farmers struggling to feed their animals. When this happens, food prices rise, and families feel the impact at the market.
Many Trinbagonian households own dogs and cats, and on very hot days, they are at real risk of heatstroke. Floods and storms may separate pets from their families, creating emotional stress for both people and animals. These problems may seem isolated, but they are all connected in what we call One Health.
One Health: Connecting people, animals, and planet
The One Health approach recognises that human, animal and environmental health are connected. When animals are forced from their homes because of deforestation, fires, or floods, they often come into closer contact with humans, increasing the risk of diseases passing from animals to people.
COVID-19 was a powerful example of how such diseases can disrupt lives and economies worldwide. Climate change increases the chances of such events by driving animals, wildlife, and humans into closer contact.
Warmer conditions also create friendlier environments for pests like mosquitoes and ticks. In the Caribbean, this means that diseases like dengue fever and chikungunya spread more easily. Meanwhile, stressed livestock and declining fish stocks threaten food security. Protecting animals, then, isn’t only about compassion or conservation; it safeguards human health.
Human activities
and animal suffering
Climate change isn’t the only factor affecting animals. Human food and energy production also play a role. Clearing forests to graze cattle or grow animal feed destroys habitats for countless species and releases large amounts of greenhouse gases. Industrial farming, often involving crowded conditions and heavy antibiotic use, adds further stress to animals, while contributing to water pollution and the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Pollution is another silent killer. Plastics and chemicals affect animals on land and at sea. Plastic waste has been found inside fish, turtles, and seabirds, while pesticide runoff from farms poisons freshwater. The truth is clear: our treatment of animals and the planet directly affect the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.
What can we do in the Caribbean?
World Animal Day is about celebrating animals’ roles in our lives and taking action to protect them. In the Caribbean, protecting habitats is one of the most important steps we can take. Planting native trees, conserving wetlands, and maintaining forest reserves all help wildlife while providing protection against floods and storms.
The way we eat also matters. Reducing food waste and making thoughtful choices about where our food comes from eases pressure on the environment and supports local farmers. Choosing fish from sustainable sources helps safeguard marine ecosystems. Keeping our pets cool during heatwaves, providing clean drinking water, and planning for storms are small, meaningful steps.
Avoiding single-use plastics, recycling where possible, and limiting use of harmful pesticides helps both wildlife and human communities. Finally, bringing doctors, veterinarians, and environmental experts together ensures that governments take a One Health approach to future planning.
A shared future
World Animal Day 2025 reminds us that animals share our homes, our food systems, and our ecosystems. When they are in danger, so are we. But there is hope. By protecting animals and the environment, we create healthier, safer communities for ourselves. Cleaner air, more reliable food supplies, and lower risks of disease all flow from respecting animals and nature.
This year, let’s celebrate the animals that enrich our lives — from the hummingbirds in our gardens to the cows in our fields and the dogs in our homes. And let’s commit to action. Because when we save animals, we save the planet — and ourselves.
Dr Chris Oura, Professor of Veterinary Virology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UWI, St Augustine
chris.oura@sta.uwi.edu
The foregoing was a weekly column by EarthMedic and EarthNurse NGO to help readers understand and address the climate and health crisis.
