European rabbit restocking: a critical review in accordance with IUCN (1998) guidelines for re–introduction

J Guerrero–Casado,F S Tortosa,Univ Of Córdoba, Spain , ,J Letty

doi:10.32800/abc.2013.36.0177

Abstract

European rabbit restocking is one of the most frequent actions in hunting estates and conservation projects in Spain, France and Portugal where rabbit is a keystone species. The aim of this work was to review current knowledge regarding rabbit restocking in accordance with the IUCN (1998) guidelines for re–introduction in order to identify gaps in knowledge and highlight the techniques that improve the overall success rate. Eight of 17 items selected from these guidelines were identified as partly studied or unknown, including important items such as the management and release of captive–reared wild rabbits, the development of transport and monitoring programs, the application of vaccine programs, and post–release long–term studies. Researchers should therefore concentrate their efforts on bridging these knowledge gaps, and wildlife managers should consider all the factors reviewed herein so as to establish accurate management guidelines for subsequent rabbit restocking programs.

Highlights

Translocation of animals for conservation management is increasing worldwide due to the alarming loss of biodiversity, but success is limited (Griffith et al, 1989, Armstrong & Seddon, 2008)
In many translocation programs, many questions remain unanswered (Armstrong & Seddon, 2008). This lack of knowledge includes data concerning the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in France, Portugal and Spain, where around half a million rabbits are translocated each year to promote the recovery of natural populations and to improve hunting stocks (Arthur, 1989; Calvete et al, 1997; Letty et al, 2008)
To establish the perspectives for future research we reviewed current knowledge on rabbit restocking in accordance with the IUCN guidelines for reintroductions

Summary

Introduction

Translocation of animals for conservation management is increasing worldwide due to the alarming loss of biodiversity, but success is limited (Griffith et al, 1989, Armstrong & Seddon, 2008). In many translocation programs, many questions remain unanswered (Armstrong & Seddon, 2008) This lack of knowledge includes data concerning the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in France, Portugal and Spain, where around half a million rabbits are translocated each year to promote the recovery of natural populations and to improve hunting stocks (Arthur, 1989; Calvete et al, 1997; Letty et al, 2008). The rabbit population declined drastically, in the 20th century, mainly as a consequence of optimal–habitat loss (Ward, 2005) and disease: recurrent outbreaks of the viral disease myxomatosis since 1952, and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) since the late 1980s (Villafuerte et al, 1995; Marchandeau et al, 1998) This sharp decline is considered a major problem for the conservation of Iberian ecosystems and hunting activity (Marchandeau, 2000; Delibes–Mateos et al, 2009), and rabbit restocking has increased significantly to recover populations (Delibes–Mateos et al, 2008b). We highlight the techniques and the factors that improve translocation success, and discuss the issues yet to be solved

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion