Knowledge, Practical Skills, and Educational Needs of Veterinary Students in Wildlife Management: A Comparative Survey in Bulgaria and Italy

Veterinary education has traditionally focused on companion and farm animals, while wildlife medicine and wildlife management remain insufficiently represented despite their growing importance within the One Health framework. This study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge, practical skills, and attitudes toward wildlife management and wildlife medicine among veterinary students enrolled in the Bulgarian- and English-language programmes at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University (Bulgaria), and in the Veterinary Medicine degree programme at the University of Milan (Italy). A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 307 veterinary students. The questionnaire evaluated students’ understanding of wildlife management, knowledge of the legislative and institutional framework governing wildlife conservation, practical experience in wildlife medicine, and preferred pathways for acquiring additional competencies. More than half of the respondents correctly associated wildlife management with the monitoring and active conservation of wildlife. However, knowledge of the relevant government authorities responsible for wildlife management was limited, with approximately one-third of the Bulgarian-language and English-language students and one-fifth of the Italian students unable to identify the responsible institutions. Practical experience in wildlife medicine was generally limited, particularly among Italian students, although students from Trakia University more frequently reported experience in multiple practical areas. Despite these gaps, respondents demonstrated a strong interest in wildlife medicine, with the majority expressing a willingness to develop competencies across multiple areas and preferring a combination of undergraduate education, postgraduate training, and voluntary practical experience. These findings highlight the need for stronger integration of wildlife medicine into undergraduate veterinary curricula through interdisciplinary teaching and practical training. Expanding educational opportunities in wildlife medicine would better prepare future veterinarians to contribute to wildlife health, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem health, and the implementation of the One Health approach.