Monitoring ‘trap-shy’ species to assess outcomes of conservation translocations can be challenging where traditional methods of mark-recapture are not feasible. The Vulnerable banded hare-wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus) does not readily enter live-capture traps and is rarely observed on camera traps. Further, they do not have unique individual markings making the identification of individual animals difficult. Determining a method to monitor this shy species following their translocation as part of an ecological restoration project to Dirk Hartog Island (DHI), Western Australia, is imperative to assess translocation success.

‘Molecular tagging’ via genetic analysis of faecal (scat) samples has enabled individual identification of banded hare-wallabies and is a promising tool for species monitoring. In 2019 and 2020, two 300ha survey plots were established on DHI and scats collected along transects within these to estimate census population size. To facilitate high-throughput analysis we developed a custom-designed, species-specific SNP panel for automated genotyping on the MassArray platform. In total, 212 scat samples were genotyped at 48 SNP loci, from which we identified up to 48 individuals across both sampling years using genetic dissimilarity analyses. Population estimates were undertaken using spatially-explicit capture recapture (SECR) analysis based on the number and spatial distribution of individual ‘captures’. Whilst an increase in the raw number of individuals was detected between years, density of banded hare-wallabies remained consistent. We demonstrate faecal DNA monitoring as a valuable method of assessing ongoing success of translocations of difficult to monitor species, enabling improved monitoring efficacy in large landscapes and reduced impact on animal welfare.