Captive Juveniles Research Articles

REPRODUCCIÓN Y CULTIVO LARVARIO DEL PEZ PAYASO MARRÓN (Premnas biaculeatus) BAJO CONDICIONES CONTROLADAS

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Interest in ornamental marine fish, especially species associated with coral reefs, is rapidly growing. Most of the fish traded come from the wild, and collection methods harm coral reefs and cause massive mortalities in non-target species. To make the activity sustainable, it is necessary to develop aquaculture biotechnologies to reduce the collection of wild organisms and lessen the pressure on their natural environment. <strong>Objective:</strong> To develop protocols for the reproduction and larval rearing of the maroon clownfish (<em>Premnas biaculeatus</em>) for the sustained production of juveniles in captivity. <strong>Methodology:</strong> Two pairs of <em>P. biaculeatus</em> were placed in two aquariums of a recirculating system with filtered seawater. The obtained eggs were incubated in 100 L tanks. The larvae were fed with rotifers <em>Brachionus rotundiformis</em>, <em>Artemia</em> sp. nauplii, and weaned onto a commercial diet. The larvae were measured at hatching and every four days until weaning. <strong>Results:</strong> The clownfish pairs began spawning 4-5 months after being placed in the recirculating system and continued spawning every 15-20 days. The eggs hatched 6-7 days after fertilization (DAF), and the hatched larvae measured 3.4±0.06 mm in total length (TL). At 19 days after hatching (DAH), after completing weaning, they measured between 9.8 to 11.5 mm in TL; at 26 DAH, they measured between 10.8 to 13.1 mm. After one month, between 800 to 1,000 juveniles were obtained for commercialization. <strong>Implications:</strong> The reproduction and larval rearing protocols of the maroon clownfish <em>P. biaculeatus</em> described in this work can be used to obtain juveniles in captivity for commercialization; additionally, they can serve as a basis for developing other protocols for obtaining juveniles of other ornamental marine fish species for commercialization, contributing to the protection of their natural environment. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The results obtained demonstrated the viability of maintaining <em>P. biaculeatus</em> breeders in captivity and achieving their natural reproduction, larval rearing, and mass production of juveniles throughout the year.</p>

Effect of Dietary Protein to Energy Ratios on Growth, Digestive Enzyme Activity and Body Composition of Captive Juvenile Spiny Lobsters, Panulirus Ornatus (Fabricius, 1798)

Abstract An evaluation of six dietary protein-to-energy (P/E) ratios was conducted to the early juvenile lobsters (Panulirus ornatus) by investigating the ratio effects on physiology, digestive enzyme activities, body composition, and amino acid profiles. Juvenile lobsters (0.25±0.01 g) were individually kept in aquaria and treated with six isoenergetic formulated diets of P/E ratios of 21.8, 22.5, 23.5, 24.6, 25.3 and 26.6 mg KJ–1. After 8 weeks of feeding experiment, the differentiation on dietary P/E ratios was found to have affected the specific growth rates, but not the survival, moult increment, moulting rate, moult interval and average daily moulting rate of juvenile lobsters. The dietary P/E ratio also influenced the protease, lipase, superoxidase dismutase activities, and body composition of juvenile lobster. The increase in dietary protein levels significantly affected the increase of the specific growth rate, while increased dietary lipid levels only affected the length increments. Both protein and lipid content were found in the whole body of the juveniles which reflected the treated dietary composition. Results indicated that a P/E ratio of 26.6 mg KJ–1 (55% dietary protein and 9% dietary lipids) can yield the maximum growth and digestive enzyme activities from among the studied diets.

Feed Efficiency, Tissue Growth and Energy Budget Changes during the Molting Cycle of Juvenile Mud Crab, Scylla serrata: Effects of Dietary Proteins, Fishmeal versus Soy Protein Concentrate

Three isoenergetic diets differing in their fishmeal/soy protein concentrate (SPC) ratio were assessed on the tissue growth and energy budget of juvenile crabs Scylla serrata in postmolt stages (PMolt) and in intermolt stages (IMolt). The average growth rates on a dry matter basis were 2.064 ± 0.324% and 0.492 ± 0.08% initial BW.day−1 during PMolt and IMolt stages, respectively. The efficiencies of the feed conversion (FCE, %), protein retention (PRE, %) and energy retention (ERE, %) were similar for the three experimental diets. However, FCE, PRE and ERE in PMolt stages were four to five times higher than in IMolt stages. The feed intake, energy and protein required for growth in PMolt stages were obviously higher than in IMolt stages. The energy budgets (% total energy intake) were marginally affected by diet but were significantly affected by the molt stage. The maintenance energy was lower in PMolt stages (49.84 ± 4.9%) than in IMolt stages (83.33 ± 2.45%). The excess in maintenance energy in IMolt stages represents the portion set aside for the next molt: shell energy content (4.97 ± 0.31%) and energy for ecdysis (±28%). Conversely, recovery energy was significantly higher in PMolt stages (34.39 ± 0.99%) than in IMolt stages (8.33 ± 1.7%). In conclusion, SPC sustained good tissue growth and good feed utilization and can be used as a main source of dietary protein for crab juveniles in captivity.

New insight into the swimming kinematics of wild Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas)

Biomechanically, sea turtles could be perceived as birds of the ocean as they glide and flap their forelimbs to produce the necessary forces required for locomotion, making sea turtles an interesting animal to study. However, being an endangered species makes studying the sea turtle's biomechanics a complex problem to solve, both technically and ethically, without causing disturbance. This work develops a novel, non-invasive procedure to develop full three-dimensional kinematics for wild sea turtles by filming the animals in Australia's Great Barrier Reef using underwater drones without disturbing them. We found that the wild animals had very different swimming patterns than previous studies on juveniles in captivity. Our findings show that the flipper goes through a closed-loop trajectory with extended sweeping of the flipper tip towards the centre of the carapace to create a clapping motion. We have named this the “sweep stroke” and in contrast to previously described four-stage models, it creates a five-stage cycle swimming locomotion model. The model presented here could lead to a better comprehension of the sea turtle propulsion methods and their fluid–structure interaction.

American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) weight gain in captivity and implications for captive reptile body condition.

The body condition of an animal is an indicator of health status and is dependent upon many factors, some of which can vary between wild and captive settings. Despite this, there have not been many studies on how captivity affects body condition relative to wild animal populations. This study explores the body condition of captive and wild American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) because reptiles are frequently overlooked in studies of captive animal health and because alligators are well-represented in captivity. We collected body condition data from 209 captive alligators and 935 wild alligators throughout Florida and southeastern Georgia and compared the relationships between body condition and body length for each group. We found that captive alligators exhibited significantly higher body condition values as they aged, and that this result was driven by the difference between captive and wild males. Body condition values for captive juveniles did not differ from wild juveniles, but they differed when comparing adults. Our results suggest that factors such as diet and movement rates play major roles in determining alligator body condition and that body condition may be an important metric for monitoring captive alligator health, especially for older adult males.

<Note>First observation of fellatio by a wild non-estrus adult female chimpanzee on an adult male, and subsequent meat sharing in Mahale

Sociosexual behaviors such as mounting and genital touch have been extensively reported in chimpanzees. However, there are a small number of reported cases of fellatio, with only a few cases between captive juveniles or adult males. In this study, fellatio from a non-estrus adult female to an adult male holding bushpig meat were observed for the first time. After a series of sociosexual behaviors including fellatio, the meat was shared through begging behavior from the female to the male, suggesting that the series of displayed sociosexual behaviors may have occurred to reduce tension, so that the female could then make a smooth transition to begging behaviors. In addition, the fact that fellatio displayed between male and female in a context similar to previously reported cases of fellatio between adult males suggests that the social bond-strengthening effect of fellatio can also function between an adult male and female.

Design and optimization of an experimental maintenance system for yellow clam broodstock Amarilladesma mactroides (Reeve, 1854).

The yellow clam is a sand-burrowing bivalve that inhabits the dissipative beaches from southern Brazil to the north coast of Argentina. In the last decades, populations of this species have been impacted by mass mortality events, overfishing and other anthropogenic activities. The production of juveniles in captivity would allow feasibility studies to be carried out to restore the natural stock as well as the production in aquaculture systems. Given the scarcity of studies on the maintenance of this species in captivity, a culture system and a management protocol were developed and tested. Wild-caught clams (total length ≥50 mm) were used in a series of 14 day-long trials. Survival was higher in clams that were allowed to bury into the sand. A permanent ink marker covered with a thin layer of a quick-hardening adhesive proved to be a reliable method to tag clams. The maintenance of yellow clams in this system resulted in high survival and growth, increases in the condition factor and oocyte diameter, and a relative advancement of gonadal development.

High-temperature and starvation tolerances of juvenile Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius

Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius is a target species for stocking, but its biological characteristics at the juvenile stage are not well understood. Here, we investigated the high-temperature and starvation tolerances of hatchery-reared juveniles in captivity. We used juveniles of approximately 40 mm standard length, the size of juveniles released into the field. The upper incipient lethal temperature (50% lethal water temperature) was estimated to be 31.8 °C, higher than the maximum sea surface temperature in the field (approximately 29 °C). The critical thermal maximum was 34.8 °C, whereas it was 36.1 °C when juveniles were preliminarily acclimated to 31 °C for 24 h. Juveniles died from 3 to 11 days under nonfeeding conditions at 20 °C, but from 2 to 7 days at 27 °C. This information is expected to contribute to the development of the production of juvenile Japanese Spanish mackerel.

PARASITES OF THE BLUE IGUANA (CYCLURA LEWISI) FROM GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND.

Feces (n = 226; 2004-2015) from healthy captive and wild blue iguanas (Cyclura lewisi) from Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, were examined for endoparasites. Parasites identified included Nyctotherus sp. and Entamoeba sp. cysts and trophozoites, trichomonad trophozoites, and oxyurid and trichostrongylid eggs. Endoparasites from postmortem examinations (n = 13) included adult and larval nematodes: Ozolaimus megatyphlon, Ozolaimus monhystera, Alaeuris travassosi, Atractis mega, and an unidentified species of Oswaldocruzia. Entamoeba spp. were more likely in captive juveniles of both sexes than captive or wild adults of either sex; Entamoeba spp. were more likely in captive adult females than captive adult males; trichomonad trophozoites were more likely in adult captive and wild iguanas of both sexes than in captive juveniles of either sex; and Nyctotherus spp. were more likely in juvenile captive males than captive adult males or females and more likely in adult wild males than captive juvenile males. Trichostrongylid eggs were more likely in adult wild females than adult captive females and more likely in captive and wild adults of both sexes than in captive juveniles of both sexes. Oxyurid eggs were more likely in adult captive and wild iguanas of both sexes than captive juveniles of either sex. Blue iguanas have a variety of endoparasites regardless of age, sex, or captive vs wild status, with no type found exclusively in either captive or wild populations. Ectoparasites from wild adults included adult ticks (Amblyomma torrei) and a single adult mite (Hirstiella trombidiformis). All are new host records for this species and Grand Cayman. Knowledge of parasite status of captive and wild populations is important to evaluate the relative risk of introduction of captive animals into wild populations.

Modeling variation in the growth of wild and captive juvenile vervet monkeys in relation to diet and resource availability.

To compare longitudinal weight gain in captive and wild juvenile vervet monkeys and conduct an empirical assessment of different mechanistic growth models. Weights were collected from two groups of captive monkeys and two consecutive cohorts of wild monkeys until the end of the juvenile period (~800 days). The captive groups were each fed different diets, while the wild groups experienced different ecological conditions. Three different growth curve models were compared. By 800 days, the wild juveniles were lighter, with a slower maximum growth rate, and reached asymptote earlier than their captive counterparts. There were overall differences in weight and growth rate across the two wild cohorts. This corresponded to differences in resource availability. There was considerable overlap in growth rate and predicted adult weight of male and females in the first, but not the second, wild cohort. Maternal parity was not influential. While the von Bertalanffy curve provided the best fit to the data sets modeled together, the Logistic curve best described growth in the wild cohorts when considered separately. The growth curves of the two captive cohorts are likely to lie near the maximum attainable by juvenile vervets. It may be helpful to include deviations from these rates when assessing the performance of wild vervet monkeys. The comparison of wild and captive juveniles confirmed the value of comparing different growth curve models, and an appreciation that the best models may well differ for different populations. Choice of mechanistic growth model can, therefore, be empirically justified, rather than theoretically predetermined.

Serum Biochemical Analytes and Trace Elements in Juvenile Whooping Cranes (Grus americana)

Biochemical and trace element analyses of blood from wild Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) were performed to assess the health of the only self-sustaining, migratory population in North America. Juvenile cranes (n=31) approximately 49-70 d-old were sampled at Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories, Canada, in midsummer from 2010 to 2012. Archived serum (n=24) and whole blood (n=31) samples from captive juvenile cranes were selected as age-matched controls. Reference values were calculated for serum biochemical analytes and trace elements in whole blood from the captive juvenile Whooping Cranes reared under controlled conditions and with known health histories. Several statistical differences among blood biochemical and trace element values of the wild and captive juveniles were identified and were likely attributable to dietary differences between the populations.

The effect of temperature, salinity, eyestalk ablation, and limb removal on growth and survival of juvenile paddle crab, Ovalipes trimaculatus (Brachyura: Portunidae)

Crustacean growth in nature is affected by hormonal processes and natural stressors. For aquaculture purposes, paddle crab, Ovalipes trimaculatus (De Haan, 1833), juveniles were subjected to experimental eyestalk ablation, limb removal, and a combination 3 × 3 temperature and salinity conditions. Relative lifetime in captivity (RLC), molting success (MS), molting interval (MI), growth in terms of size and weight after molting (SI and WI), specific growth rate in size (SGRs) and weight (SGRw), and hepatosomatic index (HS) were evaluated in eight replicate groups of crabs for each treatment (one crab per tank). RLC was significantly lower in eyestalk-ablated crabs than in those subjected to limb removal and to control conditions (no organ removal, 13 °C, salinity of 33); it was significantly higher in crabs held at a salinity of 30 vs those maintained at 33 and 27. Combinations of 16 or 19 °C and salinity of 30 provided the optimal conditions of growth in size and weight. Results suggest that control of temperature and salinity can improve growth and survival of juveniles in captivity. However, organ removal did not promote molting in captivity, likely to the detriment of survival and physiological condition. Findings from the present study highlight the importance of carefully selecting conditions to rear this valuable commercial crab to promote its aquaculture in the region.

Assessing the Viability of Reintroduction of Locally Extinct Migratory Fish Brycon orbignyanus: Successful Growth, Dispersal and Maturation

The reintroduction of threatened fish species in areas where wild populations have been depleted due to anthropogenic impacts is an increasingly popular conservation tool and mitigation policy. Despite the importance of fish reintroduction for conservation purposes, little is known about its efficiency. Here, we assessed the viability of reintroduction of the endangered migratory fish, Brycon orbignyanus, in an area of the Upper Uruguay River basin where the species has not been reported for more than 30 years. We released 4000 yearling juveniles in the Pelotas River in 2014 and maintained 400 juveniles in captivity as a control population. After three years, a total of 13 individuals was recaptured, of which, 10 were considered sexually mature with first maturation being recorded in animals larger than 42 cm in total body length. The age–length comparison with a control population growth curve showed that recaptured fish were slightly bigger than those in captivity. Furthermore, important ecological attributes as schooling behavior and dispersal capacity were recorded for all recaptured individuals. Combined, our results suggest that the re-establishment of a self-sustained population of locally extinct species B. orbignyanus in the Pelotas River may be successful if sustained over time and supported by conservation policies.

Captivity-Induced Changes in the Skin Microbial Communities of Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis).

Variation in environmental conditions can result in disparate associations between hosts and microbial symbionts. As such, it is imperative to evaluate how environmental variables (e.g., habitat quality) can influence host-associated microbiome composition. Within wildlife conservation programs, captive conditions can negatively influence the establishment and maintenance of "wild-type" microbiotas within a host. Alternative microbial communities can result in the proliferation of disease among captive stock or upon reintroduction. Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) are a threatened salamander for which extensive captive management is currently employed. Using metabarcoding, we characterized the skin microbiota of wild and captive hellbenders from two subspecies in the state of Missouri, the eastern (C. a. alleganiensis) and the Ozark hellbender (C. a. bishopi). Both subspecies in our study included wild adults and captive juveniles that were collected from the wild as eggs. Our objectives were to investigate differences in the skin microbial communities' richness/diversity, composition, and functional profiles of microbes between wild and captive individuals. Captive eastern hellbenders possessed richer communities than wild cohorts, whereas the opposite pattern was observed within the Ozark subspecies. We found significant microbial community structure between wild and captive populations of both subspecies. Microbiota structure translated into differences in the predicted metagenome of wild and captive individuals as well. As such, we can expect captive hellbenders to experience alternative microbial structure and function upon reintroduction into the wild. Our study provides a baseline for the effect of captivity on the skin microbial communities of hellbenders, and highlights the need to incorporate microbiota management in current captive-rearing programs.

Cannibalism in the Andean lizard Liolaemus orientalis

ABSTRACTCannibalism is a recurrent behavior across the animal kingdom, with important ecological and evolutionary consequences due to its potential trade-offs on the fitness of involved individuals and demography dynamics. Cannibalism has been reported in eight species of several phylogenetic lineages within Liolaemus, a highly diverse genus of Neotropical lizards. Within the Liolaemus montanus series, two species are reported to eat juveniles in captivity. We observed a female Liolaemus orientalis, another L. montanus series member, which had ingested a juvenile of its own species in the wild. As it generally happens with other lizards, cannibalism in Liolaemus has been suggested to be performed by the larger sex, with L. chiliensis being the only other case observed until now in which the cannibalistic individual was a female. The fact that females are slightly smaller than males in L. orientalis means that our observation is an exception to previously observed trends. We suggest that there is a relationship between this behavior and the presence of a masculine trait in the cannibalistic female: developed precloacal pores. We also discuss how refuge availability may influence demography and the probability of dispersing juveniles encountering adults, increasing the chances for cannibalism to play some role in population density regulation.

HEMATOLOGY AND PLASMA CHEMISTRY OF THE PLOUGHSHARE TORTOISE (ASTROCHELYS YNIPHORA) IN A CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM.

Blood samples from 172 captive and 40 wild, healthy, juvenile and adult, ploughshare tortoises ( Astrochelys yniphora ) were analyzed to determine hematological and biochemical reference intervals. Hematological analytes included packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell count (WBC), and WBC differential estimates. Biochemical analysis included total protein measured by photometry (TP) and by refractometry (TPr), albumin (ALB), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), bile acids (BA), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), urea (UREA), and uric acid (UA). The jugular vein was identified as the preferred venipuncture site as subcarapacial vein venipuncture resulted in regular hemodilution. In due consideration of small sample sizes in some of the groups studied, adult tortoises had significantly higher plasma GLDH activity and TPr, TP, ALB, BA, and UREA concentrations and significantly lower AST activity and P concentration than juveniles. Captivity had a significant influence in some reference intervals, with captive adults presenting significantly higher WBC, and estimated counts of all white cell types as well as UREA and TPr than wild counterparts. Captive juveniles also showed significantly higher estimated monocyte and lower estimated eosinophil and basophil counts. Although these differences most likely reflect local environmental or dietary differences, without representing pathology or a deviation from the normal, they question the applicability of reference values from captive animals to wild animals and vice versa. Significant sex differences were only observed for PCV and UA. The reported reference intervals may serve as benchmarks for clinical assessment and conservation of this critically endangered species.

Short-term breeding: releasing post-parasitic juvenile Margaritifera into ideal small-scale receptor sites: a new technique for the augmentation of declining populations

The aim of this research was to assess the potential for augmentation of freshwater pearl mussel populations Margaritifera margaritifera through short-term captive breeding to early juvenile stage and thus avoiding the growing-on stage of juveniles in captivity, which can have a high mortality rate. Fish encysted with Margaritifera glochidia were transferred to a tank lined with a thin layer of river gravels. Juvenile mussels were left to drop-down into these gravels and were then transferred, with the gravels, into suitable habitat in their native river. Redox potential measurements and near bed flow velocities were measured in the tops and tails of riffles to determine the best potential areas to transfer the juveniles. Following a year in the wild, juvenile mussels were found to be living in the areas in which they had been placed. This technique is recommended for rivers with populations of Margaritifera that have lost habitat quality, but where preferential flows maintain some areas that are still capable of juvenile survival.

Effects of substrate size and cleaning regime on growth and survival of captive-bred juvenile freshwater pearl mussels, Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758)

The freshwater pearl mussel is critically endangered and most English populations are at risk of extinction unless conservation measures are implemented immediately. The study objectives were to test a culture system for rearing Margaritifera margaritifera in captivity, and to investigate the effects of substrate size (0.25–1 and 1–2 mm) and cleaning regime (weekly and monthly) on survival and growth. In total, 1207 and 518 juveniles were reared to 362 (12 months) and 758 days (25 months), respectively. After 362 days, survival was significantly higher in 1–2 mm substrate treatments cleaned monthly (55 ± 6 %) and lowest in 0.25–1 mm substrate cleaned weekly (14 ± 3 %). Growth was significantly higher in 1–2 mm substrates cleaned weekly (length = 1.15 ± 0.21 mm) and lowest in 0.25–1 mm substrates cleaned monthly (length = 0.83 ± 0.23 mm). Juveniles from most treatments did not display size-dependent over-winter survival, but a significant correlation was found between shell length and survival in the 0.25–1 mm weekly treatment. This low-maintenance system utilised features of previously described systems and growth and survival rates were comparable to, if not better than, other studies culturing M. margaritifera. The system could be scaled up to rear significant numbers of juveniles in captivity.

Comparison of Serum Protein Electrophoresis Values in Wild and Captive Whooping Cranes ( Grus americana ).

Protein electrophoresis of serum samples from endangered, wild whooping cranes ( Grus americana ) was performed to help assess the health of the only self-sustaining, migratory population in North America. Serum samples from wild adult cranes (n = 22) were taken at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, USA during winter. Wild juvenile cranes (n = 26) were sampled at Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories, Canada, in midsummer. All captive crane samples were acquired from the International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, WI, USA. Captive adult cranes (n = 30) were sampled during annual examinations, and archived serum samples from captive juvenile cranes (n = 19) were selected to match the estimated age of wild juveniles. Wild juveniles had significantly lower concentrations of all protein fractions than wild adults, except for prealbumin and γ globulins. All protein fraction concentrations for wild juveniles were significantly lower compared with captive juveniles, except for prealbumin and γ globulins, which were higher. Wild adults had significantly greater γ globulin concentrations than captive adults. Captive juveniles had significantly lower prealbumin and albumin concentrations and albumin : globulin ratios than captive adults. The higher γ globulin concentrations in wild versus captive cranes are likely because of increased antigenic exposure and immune stimulation. Protein fraction concentrations vary significantly with age and natural history in this species. Reference intervals for serum protein electrophoresis results from captive adult whooping cranes are provided in this study.

Captive rearing affects growth but not survival in translocated juvenile tuatara

AbstractTranslocations are increasingly used in species conservation, but success rates can be low. Experimental approaches are needed to compare the outcomes of translocation strategies, including those involving head‐starting (the rearing of juveniles in captivity before release). Here, we studied the reintroduction of head‐started and wild‐caught juveniles of a distinctive reptile, the tuatara Sphenodon punctatus, on the South Island of New Zealand. We compared morphometric, ecophysiological, behavioural and spatial aspects for juveniles from three groups (wild‐caught from a warmer climate, head‐started from a warmer climate and head‐started from the local climate), focusing on the first 5 months of summer following release. Group did not affect body condition at recapture, but wild‐caught juveniles, despite being the only animals with ticks at release, grew faster and had higher inferred body temperatures than individuals head‐started in a warmer climate. Wild‐caught juveniles were less frequently seen emerged than juveniles head‐started at the release site, and no animals had ticks at the summer's end. Mean dispersal distance and home‐range size did not differ significantly between groups, and all groups had high survival (96.4–100% over first summer; at least 66.7–73.3% after the first winter following release). We conclude that, for most metrics, post‐release performance of head‐started and wild‐caught juvenile tuatara was similar, and that head‐started groups can differ between each other as much as between captive and wild. Our results emphasize the species‐specific nature of translocation outcomes.