Translocations and reintroductions are fast becoming a go-to management approach, with a vast array of species undergoing conservation translocations to mitigate the global biodiversity crisis. However, not all translocations are equal. There are many project- and- species- specific factors to take into account when planning, implementing, and monitoring translocations, such as the number of source populations to draw from, genetic diversity of the focal population, or the breeding biology of the species. It is therefore important to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to translocations, in order to avoid delayed or reduced conservation gain.

In this presentation I will use the reintroduction of the eastern bettong (Bettongia gaimardi) and the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) to the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary as case studies, demonstrating how genetic analyses have value-added to the reintroduction project. I will outline how source population context dictates appropriate genetic monitoring plans, and show that using a regular, intermittent sampling regime can maximise the information gained from genetic analyses. I will explain how this genetic monitoring has allowed me to enhance our understanding of the focal species, revealing new knowledge about breeding systems. Finally, I will show how a species' breeding biology can be harnessed to maximise the effectiveness of a reintroduction programme, enhancing the genetic diversity of a founding population.