Conservation translocations have become increasingly popular for ‘rewilding’ areas that have lost their native fauna. These multispecies translocations are complex and need to consider the ...requirements of each individual species as well as the influence of likely interactions among them. The Dirk Hartog Island National Park Ecological Restoration Project, Return to 1616, aspires to restore ecological function to Western Australia’s largest island. Since 2012, pest animals have been eradicated, and conservation translocations of seven fauna species have been undertaken, with a further six planned. Here, we present a synthesis of the innovative approaches undertaken in restoring the former faunal assemblage of Dirk Hartog Island and the key learnings gathered as the project has progressed.
Translocations, the human‐mediated movement and free‐release of living organisms, are increasingly used as conservation tools in imperiled terrestrial ecosystems. Marine ecosystems, too, are ...increasingly threatened, and marine restoration efforts are escalating. But the methods and motivations for marine restoration are varied, so the extent to which they involve conservation‐motivated translocations is unclear. Because translocations involve considerable risks, building on previous experience to establish and implement best practice guidelines for policy application is imperative. We conducted a global literature review to determine what marine conservation translocation experience exists. Our review indicates marine conservation translocations are widespread and increasingly common. Reinforcements and reintroductions predominate, but precedent for assisted colonizations and ecological replacements also exists. In 39 years, 487 translocation projects were conducted to conserve over 242 marine species or their ecosystems. Most projects involved coastal invertebrates (44%) or plants (30%). Few species were of conservation concern according to the IUCN Red List, likely reflecting the leading objective for most (60%) marine conservation translocations, which was ecosystem rather than species recovery. With currently no standard metrics for evaluating translocation success or ecosystem function, we recommend future projects follow the relevant IUCN guidelines and identify specific targets to measure the efficacy of translocations.
The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is the flagship species of animal conservation worldwide, and the number of captive pandas reached 673 in 2021. According to the Fourth National Survey Report ...on the Giant Panda, there are 1864 wild pandas, segregated into 33 local populations, and 25 of these populations are too small to be self-sustaining. In addition to the conservation and restoration of panda habitats, conservation translocations, an approach that has been shown to be effective in slowing or reversing biodiversity loss, are highly desirable for panda conservation. The captive-bred panda population has grown rapidly, laying the foundation for releasing captive-bred pandas into the wild. This paper reviews the scientific advances in conservation translocations of pandas. Studies have shown that before translocation conservation programs are implemented, we should determine what factors are causing the depletion of the original population at the release site. The selection of suitable release sites and individuals will help to improve the survival rate of released individuals in the wild. Pre-release training and post-release monitoring are essential to ensure successful releases. We also see the great potential for increasing applications of Adaptive Management to improve the success of giant panda conservation translocation programs. This review provides theoretical guidance for improvement of the success rate in conservation translocations for captive pandas, and uses the panda as a model species to provide a global reference for the conservation translocations of rare and endangered species.
Although the population of Przewalski's gazelle (
) has increased, this species is still threatened by a variety of risk factors, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, grassland fencing, grazing ...conflict, the segmentation of different populations, and declines in population genetic diversity. In order to determine the potential suitable habitat of Przewalski's gazelle and find a new suitable location for its conservation translocation, we used the MaxEnt model to predict the suitable habitats in Qinghai Province, Gansu Province, and the Ordos Plateau in Inner Mongolia and other regions with historical distribution records. On the basis of the MaxEnt model's prediction of the potential suitable habitat of Przewalski's gazelle, we used GAP analysis to determine the existing protection gaps and provide a new reference for the future protection of Przewalski's gazelle. We found that altitude, temperature, vegetation type, and distance from roads were the main environmental factors affecting the geographical distribution of Przewalski's gazelle. Most of the suitable habitat of Przewalski's gazelle is confined around Qinghai Lake. GAP analysis revealed that most of the suitable habitats of Przewalski's gazelle are not included in the established reserves, and Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve only covers a small area around Qinghai Lake. The whole reserve only accounts for 7.11% of the area of the suitable habitat for Przewalski's gazelle and 15.79% of the area of the highly suitable habitat for Przewalski's gazelle. We suggest that conservation translocation for Przewalski's gazelle should be put on the agenda. It is necessary to consider reintroducing these gazelles into their potential suitable habitats as a feasible way of establishing new populations and saving this species.
De-extinction is becoming potentially feasible for restoring extinct species in the wild, but research is required to determine the likelihood of success in light of contemporary and future ...environmental change. We assessed 1900–2100 change in suitable climate and land cover in the historic range of Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis), ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) and passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), in North America. Parakeet and woodpecker historic range currently remains climatically-favourable, but intensified land use has broadly reduced habitat in contemporary landscapes. For passenger pigeon, more substantive loss in climate and land cover suitability exists in both the historic full range and primary breeding range. Long-term climate and land cover projections suggest that improved habitat suitability and increased potential future distribution outside historic ranges are likely for each de-extinction candidate. While such changes could improve probability of success for de-extinction programs, extensive mismatch between historic and future habitat suitability highlights the potential risks of reviving species that may colonize novel geographic space. To date, potential long-term negative effects of de-extinction programs to ecosystems outside historic ranges have not been elucidated, making this a priority concern for any serious proposal. To address whether benefits of reinstating extinct species to historic ecosystems outweigh risks to extant species outside their historic range will require extensive ecological, social and economic analyses that extend beyond that conducted to-date for this potentially transformational conservation tool.
•Technological advances are allowing for the possibility of restoring extinct species.•Research is required to determine if de-extinction is feasible under anthropogenic change.•There is extensive mismatch between historic and future suitability for de-extinction candidates.•Each candidate has increased suitable climatic space beyond their indigenous range.•Appropriate candidate selection and explicitly stated goals are required before moving forward.
Introduction
The Eurasian beaver (
Castor fiber
) is a native species to Britain that after being absent for 400 years has been restored to the English countryside. The first beavers were released ...into a reserve in Kent in 2001/02, making this one of the first beaver release areas in the UK. This paper examines attitudes towards beaver presence in the landscape as well as public perception of beaver benefits and impacts with respect to the environment and human society.
Methods
Qualitative questionnaires were utilised to investigate factors influencing social attitudes and support for beaver reintroduction, as well as the relationship between sociodemographic variables and attitudes. Inhabitants of Kent and its immediate surroundings were surveyed during June and July of 2020 (n=407) with a focus on three interest groups – environmentalists, farmers and the general public.
Results
Perceptions included mostly beneficial impacts on nature and biodiversity, whereas less positive impacts were associated with economics, agriculture and fisheries. In general, local attitudes towards beavers were positive, mainly sustained by feelings of liking this wildlife species and valuing their presence. People´s attitudes positively influence willingness to support the reintroduction of beavers. Twenty years after their initial release, results indicate broad support for the beaver reintroduction in Kent and people´s tolerance of beavers. The majority of respondents were in favour of nonintrusive management techniques to mitigate beavers’ undesirable impacts.
Discussion
These findings suggest the need to develop an optimal management strategy that incorporates public views and gives advice on the best approach to manage this wildlife species. This research provides theoretical and practical underpinning for beaver management and conservation in Britain.
Conservation translocations are a wide‐spread tool commonly used to prevent the extinction of species locally and globally. However, conservation translocations are complicated operations which often ...fail, especially when they involve the release of captive‐bred animals. In order to survive, translocated animals need to adapt to a new environment; the success of this adaptation depends, to a large extent, on the characteristics of the release environment and on early life experiences that can affect the animals' proficiencies. We tested the effects of different early life experiences and differences in the release environment on the survival of captive‐bred translocated Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) in Israel, where they are critically endangered. We used a mark‐resight approach to calculate survival using a large dataset containing 9 years of observations of individually‐marked vultures. We found that the Griffon Vultures' survival was positively affected by their age at release and the time they spent in the wild. We also found that survival was affected by rearing method, release site and release season. Our results emphasize the critical importance of the release protocol to the success of a conservation translocation project. Furthermore, our results show how events occurring during the entire pre‐release period can have important repercussions many years later when the captive animal is released into the wild, but also that experience gained post‐release plays a major role in the animals' survival.
The species listed as Extinct in the Wild (EW) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species consist of 84 plants and animals that have been lost from their indigenous range. EW species are therefore ...restricted to ex situ conservation facilities and often have populations founded with few individuals. Our analysis demonstrates that 60% of EW species are associated with ecoregions that have very low proportions of intact habitat. Furthermore, threats such as invasive species, pollution, and climate change affect just over half of EW species and compound the obstacles facing their reinstatement to the wild. Despite these bleak assessments, there are various options for EW recovery. We present five scenarios that encapsulate the circumstances facing EW species and suggest potential conservation action for each of these situations. We illustrate these scenarios using case studies of EW species that demonstrate how the various options of ex situ management, reintroduction, and assisted colonisation to new habitat can be used to address the very exacting requirements of EW species. Our aim is to present a broad review of the obstacles facing the recovery of EW species whilst inspiring action to prevent the extinction of the most imperilled species on the planet.
The reintroduction of plant species is a technique increasingly used to restore extirpated populations. Although most often used to improve the conservation status of endangered species, it can also ...be considered for species extinct in the wild. The process of resurrecting extinct plant species is however still in its infancy, and it entails additional challenges compared to the reintroduction of locally extinct populations. This study proposes a framework to analyse constraints to post-extinction recovery based on the case of Bromus bromoideus, a species endemic to southern Belgium and northern France, extinct in the wild since 1935. The plant still exists in ex situ collections, and seeds stored for decades at 5% moisture content and -20 °C have shown a good viability. We initiated a feasibility study to assess the risks associated to a programme aiming at reviving this long-extinct species. Several constraints were identified. Biological constraints are related to the fuzzy taxonomy of the species, the unknown origin of the seeds and undocumented ex situ cultivation, and the likely low genetic diversity of the material available for reintroduction. Ecological constraints are linked to the habitat of the species. B. bromoideus has no known natural habitat and is only found in cultivated fields, which are by definition highly anthropized unprotected areas. This study shows the importance of undertaking a preliminary study that addresses all aspects of technical feasibility, scientific justification, biological and societal risks. Based on this exercise and inspired by international standards, we developed a decision tool to assist conservationists to resurrect a plant species in the best possible way.
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