Wildlife Reintroduction Research Articles

Post-Release Monitoring of Diet Profile and Diet Quality of Reintroduced African Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) in Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe

Post-release monitoring of wildlife is essential to the success of ecological restoration initiatives. Translocation of wildlife to new ecosystems is associated with changes in diet profiles of individuals and ultimately animal performance, since productivity of rangelands varies in time and space. The population decline and local extinction of buffalo and other species in Umfurudzi Park, Zimbabwe, in the late 1980s led to temporary suspension of hunting activities. Recently, efforts have been made to resuscitate Umfurudzi Park through wildlife reintroductions and active ecosystem management. We assessed the diet profile and diet quality of the African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) between 2011 and 2012. A total of 42 grass species constituted the diet spectrum of buffalo. Heteropogon contortus, Eragrostis racemosa, Steroechlaena tenuifolia and Themeda triandra contributed significantly to the buffalo diet during the four seasons of the study period. Although a wide spectrum of grass species was selected in the wet season, the diversity of grass species selected was not significantly different among the seasons. Grass species crude protein deteriorated from 4.5% in the wet season to 3.5% in the dry season. Crude protein and phosphorus levels in buffalo faecal samples were within the recommended nutrient scale for southern Africa large herbivores. We conclude that feed availability and quality may not be limiting the persistence of the reintroduced buffalo. There is a need to closely monitor grass availability, dietary shifts, and forage quality over time, as well as resource partitioning with other feeding guilds.

Findings from a survey of wildlife reintroduction practitioners

Wildlife reintroduction programs are a type of conservation initiative that seek to re-establish viable populations of a species in areas from which they have been extirpated or become extinct. Past efforts to improve the outcomes of reintroduction have focused heavily on overcoming ecological challenges, with little attention paid to the potential influence of leadership, management, and other aspects of reintroduction. This 2009 survey of reintroduction practitioners identified several key areas of leadership and management that may deserve further study, including: (i) the potential value of reintroduction partnerships for improving programmatic outcomes; (ii) the potential management value of autonomy vs. hierarchy in organizational structure; (iii) gaps in perceptions of success in reintroduction; and (iv) the need for improved evaluations of reintroduction programs and outcomes.

Leadership and management of wildlife reintroduction programs

Leadership and management of wildlife reintroduction programs

Parasite invasion following host reintroduction: a case study of Yellowstone's wolves

Wildlife reintroductions select or treat individuals for good health with the expectation that these individuals will fare better than infected animals. However, these individuals, new to their environment, may also be particularly susceptible to circulating infections and this may result in high morbidity and mortality, potentially jeopardizing the goals of recovery. Here, using the reintroduction of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) into Yellowstone National Park as a case study, we address the question of how parasites invade a reintroduced population and consider the impact of these invasions on population performance. We find that several viral parasites rapidly invaded the population inside the park, likely via spillover from resident canid species, and we contrast these with the slower invasion of sarcoptic mange, caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The spatio-temporal patterns of mange invasion were largely consistent with patterns of host connectivity and density, and we demonstrate that the area of highest resource quality, supporting the greatest density of wolves, is also the region that appears most susceptible to repeated disease invasion and parasite-induced declines. The success of wolf reintroduction appears not to have been jeopardized by infectious disease, but now shows signs of regulation or limitation modulated by parasites.

Valuing the mortality risk of wildlife reintroduction: Heterogeneous risk preferences

This study is the first to value the mortality risk incurred from wildlife reintroduction. We conducted choice experiments on wolf reintroduction in Hokkaido, Japan, in order to value the resulting mortality risk. This process involves three unique factors: the mortality risk is zero before the reintroduction, the increment of the risk caused by the reintroduction is substantially small, and the risk largely depends on citizens' individual characteristics concerning reintroduction. Because of these factors, the heterogeneity of risk preference is expected to be large. In order to examine these heterogeneous risk preferences, we use a random parameter logit model. The estimation results confirm that considerable heterogeneous risk preferences exist. Finally, the mean marginal willingness to pay to prevent the loss of one person per one billion people because of wolf reintroduction is several hundred yen.

The importance of thinking big: Large-scale prey conservation drives black-footed ferret reintroduction success

Objective evaluations of wildlife reintroductions are vital for increasing the success of future efforts to re-establish endangered species. Attempts to reintroduce one of the most endangered mammals in North America, the black-footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes), have been ongoing for 18 years with no quantitative assessment of factors related to reintroduction success. We examined relationships between ferret reintroduction success and factors associated with disease outbreaks, release strategies, and the distribution and abundance of their primary prey, prairie dogs ( Cynomys sp.), at 11 reintroduction sites. The most important factor related to ferret reintroduction success was a cumulative metric incorporating both size of the area occupied by prairie dogs and density of prairie dog burrows within that area. Each of the four successful sites had prairie dog populations that occupied an area of at least 4300 ha. No sites with <4300 ha of prairie dogs were successful in maintaining ⩾30 adult individual ferrets over multiple years without augmentation even if they had a high prairie dog burrow density. The overarching importance of the availability of high-quality habitat suggests managers should prioritize actions that maintain and enhance the availability of large areas with high prairie dog burrow density, which are becoming increasingly rare due to anthropogenic impacts and disease outbreaks.

Habitat preferences and survival in wildlife reintroductions: an ecological trap in reintroduced grey partridges

Summary 1. Wildlife reintroductions can help to restore populations and save species from extinction. However, success rates of reintroductions are low due to inherent problems, such as behavioural deficiencies resulting in high post‐release predation rates among captive‐bred animals. In particular, the released animals may use habitats maladaptively, leading to an ecological trap, i.e. preference for low‐quality habitats leading to reduced survival and/or breeding success. Ecological traps in reintroductions can be identified only through intensive studies of habitat preferences and survival of known individuals, but such studies are lacking. 2. We investigated habitat preferences and their relationship with survival by radio‐tracking reintroduced, captive‐bred grey partridges Perdix perdix, a widely reintroduced commercial game species and native farmland bird of conservation concern in the UK. The low success rate of grey partridge releases could be due to maladaptive habitat use and a possible ecological trap. 3. Grey partridges released as pairs in spring showed preferences for crop and field margin habitat. The use of crops had a positive, and use of field margins a negative, association with survival, suggesting field margins could serve as ecological traps for released grey partridges. Predation rates were high, and field margins probably hosted concentrated predator activity. 4. Grey partridges released as family groups (coveys) in autumn exhibited a preference for game covers, i.e. areas of tall vegetation specifically planted to provide cover for game birds, and mortality rates were lower than in spring. Habitat use did not affect survival in autumn. 5. Synthesis and applications. We have shown that newly released grey partridge pairs behave maladaptively by preferring a habitat which has a negative association with survival. In grey partridge reintroductions, we recommend releasing grey partridge family groups in autumn rather than releasing pairs of birds in spring, and providing game covers that could induce the groups to settle onto the release areas. In reintroductions in general, the habitat preferences of the released animals should be documented together with their fates, to enable detection of possible ecological traps that could threaten the success of these conservation efforts.

Into the Wild: Reintroduced Animals Face Daunting Odds

Researchers in the emerging field of wildlife reintroduction battle hawks, habitat loss, and poachers to give animals a second chance.

Aspen in the Sierra Nevada: Regional Conservation of a Continental Species

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), a common species in North America, is a minor species in the Sierra Nevada of California. However, the limited coverage of aspen in this area appears to carry a disproportionate biodiversity load: numerous species are dependent on the unique components of aspen forests for habitat. Land managers in the region believe the species is declining due to fire suppression policies of the past century. Recent research from other regions shows mixed results when assessing the extent of decline. This review focuses on the crossroads between human and natural history to describe a broader picture of aspen ecology in the Sierra Nevada. The method used here combines a review of the ecological literature with historical synthesis. A central conclusion is that the current “decline” in aspen must be placed in the context of an unusual regeneration pulse brought on by intensive Euro-American resource extraction activities of the late 19th century. We address unique features of the Sierra aspen population, the interface of climate change and human-caused disturbance, and conservation strategies for restoration of an aspen community more closely aligned with contemporary climate-disturbance cycles. Conservation recommendations include reintroduction of mixed-severity natural fires and complimentary wildlife, such as top predators, where practical, plus allowance for local flexibility where deviations are appropriate based on ecology and social concerns.

Developing the Science of Reintroduction Biology

With recent increases in the numbers of species reintroduction projects and reintroduction-related publications, there is now a recognizable field of reintroduction biology. Nevertheless, research thus far has been fragmented and ad hoc, rather than an organized attempt to gain reliable knowledge to improve reintroduction success. We reviewed 454 recent (1990-2005) peer-reviewed papers dealing with wildlife reintroductions from 101 journals. Most research has been retrospective, either opportunistic evaluations of techniques or general project summaries, and most inference is gained from post hoc interpretation of monitoring results on a species-by-species basis. Documentation of reintroduction outcomes has improved, however, and the derivation of more general principles via meta-analyses is expected to increase. The fragmentation of the reintroduction literature remains an obstacle. There is scope to improve reintroduction biology by greater application of the hypothetico-deductive method, particularly through the use of modeling approaches and well-designed experiments. Examples of fruitful approaches in reintroduction research include experimental studies to improve outcomes from the release of captive-bred animals, use of simulation modeling to identify factors affecting the viability of reintroduced populations, and the application of spatially explicit models to plan for and evaluate reintroductions. We recommend that researchers contemplating future reintroductions carefully determine a priori the specific goals, overall ecological purpose, and inherent technical and biological limitations of a given reintroduction and that evaluation processes incorporate both experimental and modeling approaches. We suggest that the best progress will be made when multidisciplinary teams of resource managers and scientists work in close collaboration and when results from comparative analyses, experiments, and modeling are combined within and among studies.

Health surveillance in wildlife reintroductions

Reintroductions and translocations are increasingly used as conservation tools. However, despite guidelines recommending that health-screening be an integral part of such programmes, few reports are available. For most species, even baseline data, against which to compare future results, are not published. Here we report two case studies of health surveillance in wildlife reintroduction programmes – for water voles ( Arvicola terrestris) in Australia, and for marsupial dibblers ( Parantechinus apicalis) in the UK. These illustrate the potential importance of even basic screening strategies in helping to avoid disease transfer and identifying predictors of survival. Factors to be considered in the design of future monitoring schemes are also discussed.

Wildlife reintroduction: considerations of habitat quality at the release site

BackgroundAssessing the suitability of a habitat prior to the release of animals is vital. Proper assessment of the flora will allow reintroduction programmes to determine whether the area will be capable of supporting the released animals in the long-term. Here data are presented from an island in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia which has been used as a release site for agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis albibarbis) since January 2003.ResultsMethods and results regarding fruit abundance, fruit productivity, tree density and diversity are presented. This information is then analysed in the context of the island's suitability to sustain released gibbons and without impact on the resident fauna. Based on the above ecological characteristics, the final carrying capacity of the island is estimated to be between 3 and 19 gibbons.ConclusionThese data highlight the need to survey areas being considered for release of gibbon prior to the release taking place. For reintroductions to be successful, long-term habitat assessment is vital, both pre- and post-release.

Range Contractions of North American Carnivores and Ungulates

We compared the historic and current geographical ranges of 43 North American carnivores and ungulates to identify large-scale patterns in range contractions and expansions. Seventeen of the species had experienced range contractions over more than 20% of their historic range. In areas of higher human influence, species were more likely to contract and less likely to persist. Species richness had also declined considerably since historic times. The temperate grasslands and temperate broadleaf‐mixed forest biomes lost the highest average number of species, while the boreal forest and tundra showed fewer numbers of species lost. Species contractions were a result of Euro-American settlement and postsettlement development in North America. These effects have been widespread and indicate a rapid collapse of species distributions over the course of only 1 to 2 centuries. The results of this study can be used to improve scientists’ knowledge of historical reference conditions and to provide input for wildlife reintroductions and for the creation of wildlife reserves.

A priority system for wildlife reintroduction efforts in Kuwait

Historically, Kuwait is the home for 28 mammalian, over 300 bird, and 40 reptilian species. Expanding human population and technology are increasingly altering Kuwait's natural habitat. Such alterations have lead to the disappearance of many native wildlife species. Currently, eight mammalian species have been eradicated locally but are available elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula. I have developed a priority system for reintroduction efforts for these species or other wildlife species in the area. This system will help decision makers in efforts to conserve Kuwait's wildlife biodiversity. The application of this system requires the accumulation of basic information about species. The most important of such information is related to the historic range and major extinction factors for each of the local species.

Pastoral Tribes in the Middle East and Wildlife Conservation Schemes: the Endangered Species?

Wildlife conservation schemes, which by design set out to protect endangered fauna and flora, have a relatively recent history in northern Arabia. Their philosophical underpinnings, though, stem from a long African colonial and post-independence tradition. In East Africa and elsewhere, pastoral populations were long ago forced off their grazing lands, in order to create parks and sanctuaries for wildlife and tourists (Howell 1987, McCabe et al. 1992, Turton 1987). The assumption then was that local populations overstocked and overgrazed the natural environment and were thereby obstacles to effective natural resource management. `Scientific' management of these areas required the removal of the indigenous population for the long-term benefit of these wildlife preserves. Over the past decade however, there appears to have been a change of heart, and some conservationist circles do now hold conceptual discussions of `conservation with a human face' (Bell 1987), and the need for community participation (Cernea 1991, IIED 1994). Studies based on a few promising examples of African conservation efforts are now emerging, where indigenous human populations appear to be effectively integrated into conservation and development projects (IIED 1994). When transposed to the Middle East, Africa's new-found conservation wisdom loses something in the translation (Figure 1). As I shall demonstrate, using a case study of an internationally-supported, wildlife reintroduction project in Oman, conservation schemes in Arabia have continued to regard local populations as obstacles to be overcome--either with monetary compensation or with special terms of local employment--instead of partners in sustainable conservation and development. Without partnership, these conservation efforts are doomed either to ultimate failure or, at the least, to costly programmes which `guard' the wildlife from the human element. Syria is now developing its own protected wildlife reintroduction area in a part of the desert that provides crucial winter and spring grazing for the herds of a number of Bedouin tribes. The current well-being and subsistence of these communities is at stake. If the Bedouin can be drawn into the planning and implementation of an efficient land-use and water management system, which incorporates them and their livestock into the equation, there is a chance that the wildlife reintroduction project will succeed. On the other hand, if the final design and implementation of the wildlife project ignore the human element then the outcome will be very costly and unsatisfactory. [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Recent Historical Precursors to Current Conservation Paradigms Government organised parks and protected areas first made their appearance in America and Europe during the last century. Significant areas of land were set aside as wilderness, to be preserved `untouched by humans', for the good of man. In 1872 a tract of hot springs and geysers in northwestern Wyoming was set aside to establish Yellowstone National Park. The inhabitants of the area, mainly Crow and Shoshone native American Indians, were driven out by the army, which took over management of the area (Morrison 1993). In the United Kingdom, conservationists were mainly foresters whose philosophy stressed that the public good was best served through the protection of forests and water resources, even if this meant the displacement of local communities (McCracken 1987: 190). This expertise and philosophy was transferred abroad to all of Great Britain's colonial holdings. Now, a century later, most national parks in the developing world have been and, to a certain extent, continue to be, created on the model pioneered at Yellowstone and built upon by the early British colonial conservationists. The fundamental principal of operation remains to protect the park or reserve from the damage which the indigenous local communities inflict. In Africa problems like soil erosion, degradation of rangelands, desertification, and the destruction of wildlife have been viewed as principally due to local, indigenous misuse of resources. …

Objectives and Integrated Approaches for the Control of Brown Tree Snakes

The inadvertent introduction of the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) to Guam has resulted in the extirpation of most of the island's native terrestrial vertebrates, has presented a health hazard to small children, and also has produced an economic problem. Management of brown tree snakes is aimed at a number of objectives, the foremost of which has been to deter its dispersal through Guam's cargo traffic to other locations. Another objective is to reclaim areas on Guam for reintroduction of native wildlife. A related objective is the protection of small sensitive sites on Guam from brown tree snake intrusion, such as power stations or nesting trees and caves. A fourth objective is to contain and capture incoming brown tree snakes at destinations vulnerable to their introduction. A final objective is to control incipient populations in other areas beyond their native range. A number of control tools have been developed, or are being developed. The efficacy of each control method depends on the situation to which it is to be applied. The control methods are described individually and the suites of methods most suited to each management objective are discussed.

Persistence without intervention: assessing success in wildlife reintroductions

Wildlife reintroductions proceed from a seductively simple assumption: by releasing individuals of a species into a suitable habitat it is possible to restore natural biodiversity. Not surprisingly, therefore, the release of animals to re-establish populations of endangered or threatened species is becoming increasingly common. By 1998 the World Conservation Union (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission’s Reintroduction Specialist Group (RSG) had current projects listed for over 200 animal species. The RSG issued a set of reintroduction guidelines in 1998, in which it defines reintroduction as: ‘… an attempt to establish a species in an area which was once part of its historical range …’1xGuidelines for Re-introductions. IUCN. See all

Reintroduction Plan for the Oriental White Stork (&lt;i&gt;Ciconia boyciana&lt;/i&gt;) in Japan and Its Veterinarian's Role

In 1971 the last Oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana) which survived in the wild of Toyooka, Japan was placed in captivity. Presently the captive population of the stork has increased to over 100 birds in fourteen zoos and one stork center. A reintroduction plan for the species was initiated in 1992 and a new facility for captive breeding and reintroduction, including an enducational center, will soon be constructed. However, many problems still remain which could adversely affect the reintroduction plan such as power lines which may injure flying birds and use of pesticides in rice fields where storks feed. Veterinarians may have to become involved not only in the medical aspects of reintroduction of the Oriental white stork but also in environmental conservation efforts, in order to make this first organized wildlife reintroduction project in Japan successful.

Are wildlife reintroductions worth the cost?

Are wildlife reintroductions worth the cost?

Restoring a wilderness: the reintroduction of wildlife to an African national park

International Zoo YearbookVolume 24, Issue 1 p. 192-199 Restoring a wilderness: the reintroduction of wildlife to an African national park J. L. ANDERSON, J. L. ANDERSON Deputy Director, Research, National Parks and Wildlife Management Board, Private Bag X2078, Mafikeng 8670, Bophuthatswana, South AfricaSearch for more papers by this author J. L. ANDERSON, J. L. ANDERSON Deputy Director, Research, National Parks and Wildlife Management Board, Private Bag X2078, Mafikeng 8670, Bophuthatswana, South AfricaSearch for more papers by this author First published: January 1986 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1090.1985.tb02538.xCitations: 7AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume24, Issue1Special Issue: Including volume 25January 1986Pages 192-199 RelatedInformation