Introductions and reintroductions Flashcards
What is the purpose of captive breeding?
Normally in tandem with nature conservation/ restoration
What are the only ways introductions or reintroductions can be successful?
If the original threat to the population has been removed
What is the difference between introductions and reintroductions?
Introductions may form new populations
Reintroductions may add to existing populations
What is the ultimate goal of reintroductions?
To establish a viable population that is free ranging in the wild with no management
What is translocation?
It’s a deliberate and mediated movement of wild individuals from one part of their range to another
What are the objectives of reintroductions?
To ensure long term survival of species
To restore natural biodiversity
To promote conservation awareness
What are the three steps in the process of reintroductions?
Pre-release activities
Socio-economic consideration
Planning, preparation and release
Give two examples of pre-release activities
Assessment of taxonomic status
Detailed studies of status and biology of wild species to determine needs
For animals, pre-release activities must take into consideration what?
Habitat preferences Adaptations to local conditions Behaviour Shelter and food requirements Predators and disease
For plants, pre-release activities must take into consideration what?
Habitat requirements Dispersal mechanisms Reproduction Symbiotic relationships Pests and diseases
Research into previous introductions and reintroductions should be done how?
With contact of experts who have done it before
What is important in terms of the area that introductions and reintroductions should take place?
It should be protected!
Give some examples of the factors of why introductions and reintroductions should take place
Disease Overhunting Over-collection Poisoning Pollution
Give some more examples of the factors of why introductions and reintroductions should take place
Competition
Predation
Habitat loss
Adverse effects of previous management
It is desirable that source animals are from what?
Wild populations
If the donor populations for reintroductions are captive bred it is important that they are managed how?
Demographically and genetically
If using captive bred animals it is important that what is done in preparation?
Veterinary testing and training
Why should released animals be afraid of humans?
Otherwise they may cause a problem to livestock
Why should there be socio-economic considerations in introductions and reintroductions?
Because they are normally long-term projects that require financial and political support
Why do the attitudes of local people need to be assessed?
Because understanding and support of the local people is crucial to the projects success
Reintroductions must also have full support from what?
Government agencies
For planning, preparation and release who do you need approval with and in coordination with what?
Government agencies and land owners, in coordination with national and international conservation agencies
You also need the identification of what for planning, preparation and release?
Long and short term indicators
There also needs the security of what for planning preparation and release?
Adequate funding
Pre and Post-release what is of major importance?
Monitoring!
What is one of the biggest problems with captive breeding?
It can be too successful and therefore release it done without correct habitat restoration
Give an example of a direct method of monitoring post-release
Tagging an individual of the population
Give an example of an indirect method of monitoring post-release
Counting (spoor)
Give examples of the types of studying that can be done from released stock
Demographical, ecological and behavioural
Why should people intervene post-release?
Supplementary feeding, veterinary, horticultural aid
Why should there be evaluations of reintroductions?
To determine the success and cost-effectiveness
Give an example of a species that has been reintroduced
The Arabian Oryx
What happened to the Arabian Oryx?
It was over-hunted and by 1972 became extinct in the wild
What precautionary measures were taken place for the Arabian Oryx?
Over-hunting was anticipated so they were captive bred
When was the first re-release taken place for the Arabian Oryx?
1982
Between 1990 and 1993 how many individual Arabian Oryx were released?
72
By 1998 how many Arabian Oryx were in the wild?
350
What was part of the success of reintroducing the Arabian Oryx?
A 250 genetically strong captive bred population
In terms of translocation, what was required for the Arabian Oryx?
Translocation training
Give an example of Boma training?
9 hours travel to empty quarter release area
Crated daily and transported daily a month prior to release
On arrival, what is the method for Soft Release?
Kept in small pens
In the pre-release enclosure what is provided?
Food and water
What is the purpose of the pre-release enclosure?
Acclimatisation and adjusting to gut flora
In the pre-release enclosure, once they forage ok what happens?
They are released
Give some examples of the population trends of the Arabian Oryx post-release
By mid 2002 28% had died
What was the population of the Arabian Oryx by 2002?
160-200
What were the reasons for the decline in the Arabian Oryx post release?
Starvation
Competition
Hunting
What happened in June 2011 in terms of the Arabian Oryx?
They were re-classified as Vulnerable
How many Oryx were there in June 2011?
1000
Give another example of an animal that has been reintroduced
The Black Footed Ferret
Where is the black footed ferret native?
North America
What did the black footed ferrets range match?
Its prey, the prairie dog
In what year was it thought that the black-footed ferret went extinct?
1950
What was the expected cause in the decline of the black footed ferret?
The decline in prairie dogs by 90-95%
Why was there a decline in prairie dogs?
Habitat destruction and pest control
What happened in 1964 in terms of the BFF?
A small population was found in S. Dakota
Some of the BFF were put into captivity, but then what happened?
The captivity programme failed
A new population of BFF was found in Meeteetse and put into captivity, what happened to the numbers?
Grew from 18 individuals in 1987 to 2600 in 1998
The Black Footed Ferret were released in several locations, but what happened?
Low genetic variation (i.e. from one population).
Threat of disease
Decline of natural habitat and food source
Habituation
What method can be used to prepare an animal for release into the wild?
Preconditioning
What is the idea of preconditioning?
It is training for the wild, making them learn the basic skills they will need for wildness
What is a species introduction?
When a species is taken from one location and translocated to another
Historically translocation has been completed why?
To maintain populations as a source of food
Why can introductions be good?
It can increase the numbers of an existing population
Can also increase genetic diversity
How can introductions be bad?
Can introduce disease
Could impact on existing populations
Give an example of an introduced species
The Seychelles Warbler
Where are the Seychelles Warbler confined to?
Cousin Island
How many individuals were there on this island?
26
Correct habitat management raised the numbers of individuals to what?
300
The Seychelles Warbler were introduced to two neighbouring islands resulting in what?
Healthy breeding populations without a loss in biodiversity
