Short-range endemic taxa are those species characterised by poor dispersal powers and confinement to discontinuous habitats, which by their very nature, makes them susceptible to disturbance. Most mygalomorph spiders are classified as short-range endemics, remaining sedentary in their individual burrows, with the exception of mature males roaming in search of females. It is widely accepted that these spiders dig their burrow as juveniles after dispersal from their maternal burrow, then lose their ability to dig as they mature. A series of re-burrowing experiments with different mygalomorph species suggests that although individuals will remain in their original burrows preferentially, they have the ability to dig a new burrow as an adult, with 85% of individuals successfully re-burrowing without assistance. This has implications for the ethical collection of DNA samples as well as providing potential opportunity for translocation of threatened species.

Habitat destruction and fragmentation have increased extinction risk for platypus populations. With climate projections indicating increased drought frequency and severity, these fragmented populations face augmented risk of local and permanent extirpation and declining genetic variability. Platypus conservation status varies from not threatened (National), 'Near Threatened' (IUCN Red List), 'Vulnerable' (Victoria)' to Endangered' (South Australia). Translocating individuals from thriving populations to areas where past threats have been mitigated is a vital conservation strategy which could contribute to the overall resilience ecosystems and enhance the long-term survival of species. The Royal National Park, established in 1879 as the world's second-oldest national park, has had no confirmed platypus sightings for over 50 years. Comprehensive assessments of habitat suitability, food availability, and water quality confirm suitable conditions for sustaining platypuses yet eDNA surveys suggest none exist. In May 2023, 10 platypuses were translocated into the rivers of Royal National Park. Platypuses were collected from three rivers in New South Wales and reintroduced to the park through a unique collaboration between UNSW, Taronga Conservation Society, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and WWF-Australia. We discuss the development and implementation of the translocation plan and the monitoring of reintroduced platypuses during the initial months. The project aims to reintroduce a self-sustaining, genetically diverse population within the park, marking the first platypus translocation in New South Wales. This landmark initiative will contribute towards a framework for future emergency response plans and a broad, adaptive conservation strategy that can enable conservationists to effectively translocate platypuses.

The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) occurs along the Great Dividing Range from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria. The southern Evolutionary Significant Unit (sESU) has declined in Victoria to one extant population in East Gippsland and one reintroduced population in Gariwerd (Grampians) - both are threatened by predation, fire and genetic decline.
The East Gippsland southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby (sBTRW) colony contains approximately 50 individuals and is monitored annually with remote cameras and cage trapping. Gariwerd has approximately 12 animals.
Captive breeding in the 1990s lacked suitable founders which reduced genetic fitness of captive populations. In 2012, a 25% central:75% southern gene mixing strategy (maintaining minimum 50% sESU) was endorsed to increase genetic diversity of the extant and captive populations.
From 2015-18 four sBTRW were translocated from East Gippsland to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve’s (TNR’s) captive program. Select captive and wild founders of southern and central ESUs formed controlled captive breeding at Mt Rothwell (MtR) and TNR.
Twenty founders from this program established an insurance population at MtR within a large predator-proof fence where animals reproduce naturally.
In 2019, 2020 and 2022, eleven hybrid sBTRW from MtR were translocated to East Gippsland.
Early results for these translocations are encouraging: survival and movement - 66% of translocated animals successfully established and survived one year; reproduction – 30% of translocated animals bred successfully* by the third year; population size – stalled since the 2019-20 bushfires due to lack of recruitment; genetic diversity – insufficient time for this measure to be determined.
*assumed, awaiting genetic results

Seventeen Boodies (Burrowing Bettongs, Bettongia lesueur) were introduced to Faure Island in 2002. The island now supports one of the largest Boodie populations in Australia. Faure has been proposed as a source for Boodie translocations elsewhere. However, concerns about the cause and high prevalence of unusual ear lesions, first reported in 2003 and recorded in 75% of individuals (39/52) in 2022, means that Faure animals have not yet been used. In 2021 and 2022, comprehensive health assessments were conducted at Faure, collecting morphometric data, ear tissue biopsies and blood samples. Investigations were conducted at all other Boodie populations during 2022 and 2023. Preliminary results from Faure showed that the odds of detecting a novel papillomavirus were 9.3 times higher in Boodies with ear lesions (95% CI: 2.28-37.9; p = 0.001). While an alternative cause for the pigmented, plaque-like and papillomatous changes is possible, such lesions are associated with papillomaviruses in other species. The significance of the association in Boodies is unclear because 1) the Faure population is large and stable; 2) affected individuals were otherwise healthy; 3) 14 individuals with no lesions tested positive for papillomavirus; 4) lesions were detected in three other island populations; 5) the papillomavirus was detected in one other island population; and 6) no lesions were detected in the mainland populations. With lesions and papillomavirus already present in other populations, and given no detectable health impacts of either, they likely present a low risk to conservation translocations of Boodies using the Faure population as a source.

The success of the Noisy Scrub-bird/Tjimiluk (Atrichornis clamosus) translocation program in securing the rediscovered population of this cryptic semi-flightless songbird, once considered extinct, has been widely acknowledged in the conservation community. Nevertheless, the species remains restricted to an area of less than 30,000 ha just east of Albany. While translocation efforts, which commenced in 1983, have undisputedly resulted in a more promising future for this species, there are numerous insights from the previous 40 years of translocations that can be used to guide future conservation work. Continuing to establish new populations over a larger geographic area is key to the longer-term conservation of the Noisy Scrub-bird. Research into territorial song and population genetics has provided insights into the social structure of scrub-birds and the importance of further translocations to support genetic management. However, the scrub-bird is still listed as endangered and with the likelihood of unplanned fire increasing, and climate change likely to modify suitable habitat, having multiple populations remains a priority for the recovery team. Learning from failures has resulted in a more conservative approach to testing release sites with small initial numbers of founders, but more work is needed to identify suitable habitats that may be resilient to a changing climate and to increase effectiveness of the translocation program. In this presentation we summarise 40 years of translocations and provide some perspective on directions for the future management of this unique songbird.

Long-lived territorial bird populations often consist of a few territorial breeding adults and many non-breeding individuals. These populations are highly threatened by anthropogenic activities and climate change because breeders often have a high demand for habitat quality; these characteristics have promoted many conservation translocations. High non-breeder survival is a key factor in the success of these attempts. Success should also be greatly influenced by the transition rate of non-breeders to breeders. Reintroductions of Oriental Stork, a long-lived territorial species, were initiated in Japan in 2005 to restore the former species range using captive birds. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the factors determining adult survival and recruitment to breeding populations in the reintroduced stork. Breeding experience was identified as the most important factor determining survival probability among adult birds, while generation was identified as the most important factor determining the survival probability of birds that emerged in the wild over the first three years after reintroduction. A low breeding probability of adult males was detected for a specific haplotype of the reintroduced population. The reintroduced Oriental Stork population has been steadily growing, and the non-breeder to breeder ratio appears to be acceptable. However, this study revealed that the initial survival probability of reintroduced birds declined with each passing generation. Therefore, accelerated habitat restoration is desired for the sustained growth of reintroduced populations. Moreover, captive breeding and release history might contribute to an increase in the proportion of less-adaptive genetic types in the wild.

Leadbeater's Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) is a Critically Endangered marsupial possum, endemic to Victoria, Australia. The species comprises two genetically distinct populations; highland and lowland. Just 24 lowland individuals persist in the wild at a single locality due to historic habitat loss, ongoing habitat degradation, and inbreeding depression. Captive-breeding has been unsuccessful to date. Successful translocations have been conducted to establish new breeding territories within habitat occupied by the lowland population, however translocations to new localities outside this area are required to increase population size. We present findings from two trial conservation translocations of lowland Leadbeater’s possums to new locations, Wallaby Creek and Tolmie. The translocation trial at Wallaby Creek was terminated after three months due to high rates of predation by feral cats. This outcome was not anticipated, as cats were not previously considered a major threat. Predation events were spatially dispersed, and not concentrated around nest boxes or supplementary feeding stations. Despite no predation of possums translocated to Tolmie for the first five months, predation rates subsequently increased, and this trial was terminated after eight months. There were multiple sources of mortality at Tolmie, however the increased predation rate coincided with increased cat activity. These results highlight that introduced terrestrial predators can have major impacts on translocation success for arboreal species. The results from Tolmie also illustrate pronounced temporal variation in predator activity. The next step in recovery of the genetically unique lowland population will require establishment of a ‘Safe Haven’ where cats and foxes are excluded.

Designing a reintroduction program requires balancing tradeoffs in resource investment (e.g. captive breeding, post-release monitoring, training, supplemental feeding, etc.), as well as in direct allocation of animals between populations. Population viability analysis (PVA) is a modeling tool that helps practitioners weigh these tradeoffs and assess progress towards recovery targets. We used PVA to evaluate recovery efforts for the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata), which declined to 13 birds and has been the focus of a captive breeding and reintroduction program since 1973. We built an individual-based model of the dynamics of two aviary and three wild populations that are connected via annual releases and parameterized it with detailed demographic data from the last 15 years. We use the PVA to explore risks due to hurricanes, different management strategies for releases, and demographic rates that would lead to successful recovery. If management continues as planned including releases for the next 25 years, the three wild populations have low to moderate risks of extinction of 0.4-31.1% over the next 100 years. Strong growth occurs during the release period, but after management stops all three have declining average stochastic growth rates (range -1% to -5%). This long-term vulnerability is partially due to hurricane risks; without them the wild subpopulations have extinction risks of (0-7%). Our modeling identifies priorities for data collection to better pinpoint the most critical recovery strategies as well targets for management changes that may shift long-term trajectories to stable or growing.

Conservation translocations are prone to failure due to their complexity in design and execution. Lack of species-specific knowledge to guide the development of translocation strategies is one of the key difficulties faced by conservation managers. However, obtaining this information can be difficult, particularly for species which inhabit remote areas or are difficult to observe.

Western grasswrens were translocated from mainland Shark Bay to Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia in October 2022. Prior to this translocation, there was limited information about the breeding biology, behavioural ecology and no information on population genetics for this cryptic species. Hence, well-informed species-specific translocation strategies could not be developed. Due to the challenges of direct observation and remote location, obtaining blood samples for genetic sequencing was thought to be an effective way to rapidly learn multiple ecological aspects about this species.

We used genetic analysis to obtain a better understanding of the genetic mating system, infer dispersal capabilities, and determine population genetic structure of the last remaining population of western grasswren in Western Australia. Our results have directly aided in the development of several translocation strategies such as 1) where to source individuals, 2) how many individuals to source, 3) the implications of sourcing whole groups versus part of a group, and 4) capture and release designs. In addition, SNPs allowed for the first genetic estimation of source population size through extrapolating from effective population size. This case study highlights how gathering genetic data can greatly assist in making evidence-based translocation strategies for cryptic species.

Uncertain genetic distinctiveness of populations may affect the need and source of potential conservation translocations, while habitat suitability is integral for the development of feasible release strategies. The half-moon hairstreak (Satyrium semiluna) is an endangered butterfly with a limited range in Canada. It is found at eight localities in the province of British Columbia and one in the province of Alberta. In Alberta, half-moon hairstreaks are only found in a small area of about 3 km2, in Waterton Lakes National Park, making it susceptible to extirpation from natural disturbances and other threats such as the invasive plant spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe). Although endangered, the Waterton Lakes half-moon hairstreak population’s life history, ant-associations, host plant preferences, and genetic uniqueness have never been studied; a greater understanding of these features is integral for its conservation. We surveyed the population density of both larva and adult half-moon hairstreak’s from 2020-2023 in relation to host plant density and ant species abundance. Our habitat suitability model will help to guide habitat management of the current population and assess the potential for assisted colonization. Half-moon hairstreak larvae have high host-specificity for both plant and ant species, only associating with a single species. This limits potential care and translocation options, such as assisted colonization or population augmentation. We also compared the full genome of the Waterton Lakes half-moon hairstreak population to other populations. The Waterton Lakes population is genetically distinct from the closest populations of this species found ~450km away in British Columbia and Montana, which increases the need for unique conservation actions. Both the habitat suitability model and genetic results are already being used to inform future conservation actions. Both the habitat suitability model and genetic results are already being used to inform future conservation actions.

Pseudemydura umbrina (western swamp tortoise) is a small (males <500g, females < 320g) cryptic freshwater turtle with a long juvenile period (8-15 years) and a lifespan of up to 100 years. The species occurs naturally in a Mediterranean-type climate, in shallow seasonal and ephemeral clay or sand-over-clay-based swamps with a low mid-story canopy and is active during winter and spring. During summer and autumn, western swamp tortoises aestivate mainly underground in surrounding bushland. By the late 1980s only a single, self-sustaining wild population persisted (~30 individuals). A successful captive breeding program has been ongoing since 1988. Captive-bred juveniles (2-4yrs old, >90g) were translocated to three sites inside the species’ likely historical range multiple times from 1994, 2000 and 2007 onwards. Despite inconsistent monitoring at the three sites, some trends were observed. The percentage of juveniles that reached maturity (released prior to 2015; more than 135 per site) varied from 14.04% to 22.06%, according to the release site. The hydroperiod of wetlands was the main habitat characteristic found to be positively correlated with translocation success. Over the last 29 years, increasing aridity due to climate change has progressively degraded the integrity of these habitats. Translocations were more successful at sites where at least some associated wetlands overflow during winters with average or above average rainfall. This buffers, to some degree, hydroperiod decline and shortening of western swamp tortoise activity seasons in winters with below-average rainfall.

Wildcats in Scotland are a critically endangered sub-population of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) and are the last remaining wild felid species in the UK. The main threats to the wildcat in Scotland are habitat loss, prey decline, and persecution from gamebird management, which have substantially reduced and fragmented populations, driving increased hybridisation with domestic cats. Despite a series of dedicated conservation projects, an independent status review by the IUCN Cat Specialist Group in 2019 concluded that the wildcat population was no longer viable without reinforcement from captive populations. In response to this crisis, the EU LIFE funded Saving Wildcats partnership project (2020-2026) was developed, led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS). Saving Wildcats will conduct the first trial releases of sixty wildcats into a prepared release site in the Cairngorms National Park between 2023-2025, with the aim to establish a population. The dedicated captive breeding for release facility was built at the RZSS Highland Wildlife Park between 2020-2022, with the first litter of twenty-two kittens born in Spring 2022. Pre-release surveys of the release site confirmed low risks from hybridisation and predator control, and positive support from the local community. The project was granted a translocation licence in January 2023, and the first (soft) releases took place in Summer 2023. Extensive post-release monitoring, including GPS collaring of released wildcats, is providing vital information for targeting ongoing threat mitigation, including Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return of feral cats and engagement with gamekeepers, as well as key behavioural data to inform subsequent releases.

The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation (PARC) Project is one of the largest amphibian conservation and captive assurance colonies in the world. The program has established in 2009. It maintains captive populations of twelve highly threatened amphibian species, and it has performed several reintroduction trials in Panama. Many of these species declined catastrophically due to the amphibian chytrid fungus. In this talk, we will provide a brief overview of the program, major milestones, and then highlight two recent research projects. The first project works to understand how much variation in susceptibility to the amphibian chytrid fungus exists within the captive collection, both between species and individuals of different captive-bred genetic lines. Experimental live-pathogen exposure trials were paired with a non-invasive assay of skin mucosome effectiveness to inhibit the chytrid fungus and subsequently correlated for predicted to observed disease susceptibility of animals in the collection. By comparing mucosome effectiveness within known pedigrees and sibling groups of captive-bred animals, we can explore the potential for artificial selection for disease and better understand how our species may fare in the wild after reintroduction. The second research project that will be discussed has supplemented two rare frog species with an artificially synthesized alkaloidal toxin (decahydroquinoline) that captive-bred animals lose in captivity. Without these antipredator toxins, some frogs likely experience higher rates of predation once reintroduced. Our results may provide important tools for improving the success rates of future reintroductions.

In Britain, there is currently an increasing interest in reintroducing pine martens (Martes martes), but proposed projects are often locally planned and motivated without knowledge of other, similar projects or consideration of how they fit within the wider context of pine marten conservation. A national, strategic approach was needed to help guide decision makers. The recovering population of pine martens in Scotland is currently the most suitable source of animals for translocations elsewhere in mainland Britain. However, it is important to protect the recovering pine marten population in Scotland, as well as to facilitate natural recolonisation where possible. Therefore, reintroductions should only be done in a way that minimises risk to donor populations and maximises the probability of reintroduced populations establishing, spreading and ultimately linking up. We developed a simple and transparent framework based on a combination of widely used modelling methods that can be used to inform decisions around spatial targeting of pine marten conservation measures. We used habitat suitability modelling in combination with Circuitscape, to model connectivity across the landscape. We then carried out spatially explicit Population Viability Analyses (PVA) to link landscape structure from the habitat model with habitat quality and population dynamics. We ran a series of simulations to look at likely patterns of pine marten persistence, dispersal and range expansion both at a national scale with and without translocations, and, at a finer scale, to further investigate potential reintroduction regions.

Previous climate change events have resulted in global mass extinctions. Modelling of climate impacts to the Gondwanan Rainforest of the Tweed Caldera in northeast NSW have predicted reductions in species abundance and contraction in suitable habitat. One method to mitigate these impacts is assisted migration, a tool widely discussed in conservation ecology since the early 2000’s.

National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW are partnering with numerous organisations and experts to develop and implement conservation strategies to improve in-situ genetic diversity and assist the migration of dispersal limited rainforest species, to predicted climate refugia. Species with current and planned actions include Elaeocarpus sedentarius (Minyon Quandong), Eidothea hardeniana (Nightcap Oak), Diploglottis campbellii (Small-leaved Tamarind) and Endiandra floydii (Crystal Creek Walnut). The aim of these translocations is to both increase the adaptive capacity of existing populations and to establish genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations for the most at-risk species. The new populations will be representative of wild sites and provide insurance against predicted losses associated with climate impacts.

The translocation of threatened species is usually a regulated activity that may be subject to one or more authorisation processes. Anticipating the types and nature of authorisations that may be required reduces the risk that a translocation is delayed, changed, or denied as a result of unforeseen authorisation processes. Once you know what authorisations are required, the duration of the process and the end outcome is dependent on your understanding of the purpose of the authorisation and the relevance of the information you provide.

Common to many authorisations are key principles that relate to; promoting the conservation of the species, retaining genetic diversity, consistency with conservation plans, the advice provided by governance bodies, policies and guidelines, the control or ownership of animals and genetic diversity, and the management of risk.

Early dialogue with the approval authority fosters a common understanding of the proposal, the purpose of the authorisation, the nature of the application information required, and the process time that should be expected.

Fostering dialogue between different approval authorities based on the key principles can both streamline authorisation processes and establish confidence in the rigour of your proposal in managing risk.

The global decline of marine turtles has inspired a variety of conservation actions, including headstarting. This short-term captive rearing before wild release targets the highly vulnerable hatchling lifestage and aims to release fitter individuals by maximising early-life growth rates. The impact of headstarting programs has been quantified in freshwater turtles, but not marine turtles due to few long-term, large-scale programs. The Cayman Turtle Centre (CTC) released over 31,000 juvenile green turtles from 1980-2001, and the wild population simultaneously recovered from extirpation. To attribute any credit for wild population recovery to the captive release of headstarted turtles, a process hereafter referred to as supplementation, a population viability analysis is required to compare population trajectories with and without supplementation. This study presents the first quantification of the impact of marine turtle supplementation, by comparing nesting female abundance between simulated scenarios: with and without supplementation. Supplementation of Cayman Island green turtles were shown to have a quantifiable and positive impact on survival to recruitment, with supplemented individuals surviving to recruitment at a rate 3.4 times higher than wild turtles, and a cumulative 145 nesting females added to the wild population. Supplementation has extended the predicted population extinction, from 1848 to 2118; indicating that the CTC releases have recovered the wild population. This work provides the first evidence that headstarted marine turtles can provide a survival advantage that could result in population recovery, and these findings can inform conservation management efforts for other similarly imperilled marine turtle species.

Tall Astelia (Astelia australiana) is a threatened rainforest herb endemic to southeastern Australia (Victoria). The species is continuing to decline with over 68 % decline of individuals in monitored populations over the last 30 years (1993-2023).
There are multiple threats to the species including plant pathogens, wildfire, herbivory from introduced herbivores, and climate change (Parker 2018). In addition, the species abundance and survival within the rainforest is limited by low light availability below the canopy (Parker 2018).
54 individuals were collected from one wild population as a trial translocation and planted into three recipient sites. This trial was a success and so was extended to translocate a further 200 individuals from six source sites. These plants were planted into four new sites to extend the species range and to reduce the risk of a single large wildfire from killing a large proportion of the population (as happened in 2009). One site used in the trial translocation was also increased in size. A fifth site was translocated into and fenced to replace a population that had been heavily browsed (Parker and Nitschke 2019, 2020).
The translocations had mixed success with good overall survival of translocated individuals (80%) after 5 years, and reproduction in three of the translocated populations and subsequent population growth in those sites.
Further translocations are required to reduce the ongoing threats to this species. These translocations will be informed by the coupling of our genetic analysis results of the species across its range and our species distribution model.

Translocations are essential for rhinoceros conservation. Despite their wide use and importance, these practices are associated with stress that may ultimately lead to translocation failure. Therefore, stress-reducing techniques are required.

Here we used blood-, physiological- and behavioural-variables to quantify stress responses on different time-scales. Our aim was to investigate whether the anxiolytic drug midazolam was able to reduce stress responses compared to azaperone, a tranquilizer which is more commonly used.

Twenty-three wild white rhinoceros bulls were transported for six hours (280 km) and sedated with either azaperone or midazolam. Serial blood samples were collected from an auricular vein at the start of transport, and after two, four and six hours of transportation. Rectal body temperature (iButton®) and cardiac electrical activity (POLAR® Equine heart rate monitor) were measured every 10 minutes throughout transportation. Rhinoceros behaviour was recorded every minute (GoPro®). Changes in measured variables over time and between groups were compared using linear mixed models with random intercept per individual.

Serum catecholamines decreased over time (p<0.001). Cortisol and leukocyte coping capacity (area under the curve) decreased after peak plasma concentrations were reached at two- and four-hours of transportation, respectively (p≤0.001). Body temperature and heart rate continuously decreased, and heart rate variability continuously increased over time (p<0.001).

Although not statistically significant, across all variables midazolam sedated rhinoceroses tended to have greater stress responses. Midazolam animals appeared calmer, but lay down more than azaperone animals (p<0.001). These findings indicate that midazolam is not superior to azaperone in reducing stress responses to transportation.

Conservation translocations, have increased thirty-fold over the last three decades and are projected to increase further a biodiversity loss continues worldwide. The literature abounds with analyses to inform translocations and assess whether they are successful, but the fundamental question of whether they should be initiated at all is rarely addressed formally. We used decision analysis to assess northern leopard frog reintroduction
in northern Idaho, USA, with success defined as a population that persists for at least 50 years. Along with other considerations, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will use this assessment in the future to make a decision regarding reintroduction of northern leopard frogs. Stakeholders from government, indigenous groups, academia, land management agencies, and conservation organizations also participated. We built an age-structured population model to predict how management alternatives would affect probability of success. We accounted for both parametric uncertainty and stochasticity (environmental and demographic) in the model, which allowed us to explicitly represent uncertainty around the probability of success and to assess the sensitivity of predicted outcomes to uncertainty. For the leading alternative, results were bimodal, with most parameter combinations resulting in either very low (95%) probabilities of success. Overall, the results of this feasibility assessment suggest that a successful reintroduction of northern leopard frogs is possible but far from certain, with the uncertainty primarily driven by uncertainty surrounding survival of early life stages. Conservation translocations would benefit greatly from more widespread use of decision analysis to counter the complexity and uncertainty inherent in these decisions.

Guaranteed funding, community support and adaptability to unforeseen risks are critical in achieving competitor eradication to support future translocations. The Abrolhos painted button-quail (Turnix varius scintillans) (APBQ) has been identified as one of the most imperilled birds in Australia, with a probability of extinction of around 70% in the next 20 years. It is a small ground-dwelling bird with a resident distribution restricted to three small islands of the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago off the west coast of Western Australia, including North Island.

Tammar Wallabies (Notamacropus eugenii ) are a priority 4 protected species In WA. Introduced by resident fishermen to North Island, first in the 1920s which did not persist, but most recently in 1985 which subsequently established. A significant decline in vegetation ensued and the local extinction of APBQ followed. Between 2007-2009 control measures on Tammars including fertility control, culling, and trapping were undertaken reducing the population to an estimate of 50-70 animals. Eradication subsequently failed due to lack of ongoing funding and the population rebounded.

The project was reinstated in 2018 with guaranteed ongoing funding to eradicate Tammar wallabies. The first necessity was met, however community and political values over the decade had changed leading to increased scrutiny on approvals and the need to regain community support after the previous failed attempt. COVID 19 arrived in the middle of the operation and the ability to access the island was no longer guaranteed. Flight and vessel movements became restricted, planned trips were cancelled at last minute due to the fishing industries profitability taking precedence, and the Tammars continued to breed. The challenge of finding and removing the final animals was further complicated by the strong recovery of vegetation reducing the ability to successfully track individuals. Adaptability to these new challenges whilst keeping the local community on side was crucial in continuing the operation to achieve eradication.

Over 20% of Australian endemic land mammals are at risk of extinction, with many restricted to small populations on continental islands which may harbour unique genetic and phenotypic variation. In the past, managers have generally avoided crossing divergent populations because of the perceived risks of outbreeding depression. Yet, mixing source populations in reintroduction programs is increasingly advocated to maximize genetic diversity. We investigate the potential application of mixing mainland and island populations in the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis); a threatened dasyurid restricted to Western Australia at just one mainland site and two small offshore islands – Boullanger Island and Whitlock Island. With previous research projecting a continuing decline in genetic diversity over the next century, we combine morphometrics with genomics to gain a better understanding of population divergence in the dibbler. Preliminary analyses using 20,615 SNPs across 159 individuals show substantial genetic differentiation between populations (pairwise-FST values ranging from 0.04 – 0.67) with two genetic clusters reflecting the mainland and island populations. The majority of remnant genetic diversity is harboured in the mainland population. We use the TreeMix model to investigate the amount of genetic drift along each population as well as the contribution of natural selection to intra-population divergence by comparing phenotypic variation (PST) and genetic variation (FST). We also explore whether the relative contribution of natural selection and genetic drift can be incorporated into existing population viability models to determine the effect evolutionary processes can have on population viability, particularly in the context of genetic mixing in reintroductions.

Under the Threatened Species Framework for zero extinctions on park, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is creating a network of feral predator-free areas, covering 65,000 hectares across the NSW national park system, and is separately undertaking koala translocations and brush-tailed rock-wallaby assisted movements within the national park system.
Three current project sites, covering nearly 20,000 hectares, were developed under a partnership model between NSW government and the non-government sector. By the end of 2023 these projects will account for 19 translocations of 12 species of mammal currently listed as extinct in NSW. Four new project sites will triple the area under protection to accommodate additional translocations of NSW extinct species and provide conservation benefit for at least 50 threatened animal species.
These projects demonstrate how partnerships and different models of partnership are critical to successful conservation translocations and ongoing threatened species management.
Model 1: Government + one
• Government enters into formal long-term partnerships with large-scale conservation organisations (AWC and UNSW), that provide the resources and expertise in design and construction, feral predator removal, sourcing and translocations, ongoing monitoring and surveillance. These large NGOs, in turn, manage a number of discrete partnerships to complete these tasks.
Model 2: Government + many
• Government works closely with specialist organisations for predator-proof fence design, construction, pest removal, sourcing wild founders, captive breeding, animal health and translocations.
Model 3: Intra-government
• Partnerships between government departments and teams to achieve targeted translocation and assisted movement of animals within the national park system.

The risk of species extinction has escalated due to rapid and extensive ecosystem changes occurring worldwide. To avert further losses, significant strides have been made within the scientific community to develop protocols for plant translocations that account for the biology of native species and the ecological characteristics of recipient environments. We present a case study focusing on Isoëtes cangae, an endemic species confined to an unique lake in the Brazilian Amazon. A diverse array of management techniques was developed to conserve and support future demands of the species translocation. Since 2017, comprehensive investigations have been undertaken to comprehend the species' ecology and the potential recipient sites. The physical, chemical, and biological attributes of these environments were assessed to discern their impact on the growth and development of I. cangae. This knowledge not only enhanced understanding but also facilitated predictions of potential impacts arising from management interventions, while aiding in the evaluation of their effectiveness. Assisted colonization experiments initiated in 2019, before ensuring environmental safety for both the target species and the receiving habitats. Furthermore, studies involving assisted colonization in environments with contrasting characteristics provided valuable insights into the physiological limits of the species, thereby establishing a comparative baseline for future assisted introduction endeavours. The findings of these studies are crucial for the conservation of endemic aquatic macrophytes in Brazil and other regions. By carefully considering biological and ecological factors and implementing targeted management strategies, effective conservation of endangered species can be achieved even within rapidly changing environments.

Conservation translocation, including reintroduction, has developed as an important conservation tool, though largely separately from the field of ecological restoration, but both intuitively seem to have something in common with the increasingly popular rewilding movement. Rewilding was originally narrowly defined around cores, corridors and carnivores, but has recently become a diverse and growing set of projects worldwide that sometimes involve conservation translocations and ecosystem restoration. I review the history and range of activities that fall under the label "rewilding", examine the role of conservation translocations in global rewildling projects, and attempt to define the intersection between conservation translocation, ecological restoration, and rewilding.

This presentation outlines practical application and outcomes of feasibility and risk assessments using the precautionary principle for conservation translocation of great apes. We considered the risks and benefits of translocating Critically Endangered Grauer’s gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) to different sites in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, using IUCN guidelines, published studies on methodology and impacts of conservation translocations, and species- and habitat-specific data. The outcome was that one release site in the subspecies geographic range is compatible with IUCN criteria. Mt. Tshiaberimu is actively protected against poaching of wildlife and encroachment of the habitat, no sympatric great ape taxa are present and, most importantly, the resident Grauer’s gorilla population is non-viable. To assess the suitability of this area as a release site, issues that must be evaluated include whether the resident gorillas and other wildlife would be negatively impacted by a translocation, carrying capacity of the habitat, existing threats, the needs of local human communities and their attitudes towards the park. Although lacking some of the information required, we sourced sufficient data to answer important questions regarding the risks and benefits of supplementing the gorilla population. Research by the translocation partnership (Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Centre, Virunga National Park and Re:wild) is now underway to address key knowledge gaps. Our approach could encourage improved compliance with IUCN best practice guidelines for assessing potential release sites and planning translocations in cases where data are limited and risks to released great apes, wild conspecifics, and sympatric species are high.

The mainland eastern barred bandicoot, Peremeles gunnii, is a threatened marsupial in south-eastern Australia which in 2021 was reclassified from ‘Extinct in the Wild’ to ‘Endangered’. The recovery was enabled by a successful captive breeding program and subsequent translocations from captivity back to the wild. Learnings from both failed and successful reintroductions revealed fox predation was a critical determinant of failure. As such, subsequent translocations have been restricted to safe-haven locations, including assisted colonisations to three fox-free islands and four predator-proof fenced reserves.
Despite the numerical recovery, genetic diversity within all populations is low and in decline since 1990. To halt the decline in genetic diversity, all populations are now managed as a single metapopulation, which relies on translocating individuals between established sites. However, the success rate of these translocations is unknown.
In October 2021 five male hybrids of mainland and Tasmanian subspecies of eastern barred bandicoots were released into an established and dense population on Churchill Island and for the first time their survival and genetic contribution could be monitored through live-trapping and tracking their unique Tasmanian alleles. Despite reasonable power to detect genetic introgression, trapping in 2022 and 2023 has so far failed to capture these migrants, nor any potential offspring. This suggests that despite expectations, the migrants failed to either establish or contribute genetically to the population. Alternative strategies are likely to be required to maximise translocation success into established populations and allow gene flow.

Despite recognition of the health risks posed by translocations - mainly due to stress-related complications and disease transmission - health monitoring is rarely conducted due to lack of resources such as field-friendly reporting systems, and of scientific evidence for the long-term health impacts of translocations. This is particularly problematic amid a sixth mass extinction where translocations are required to support species and ecosystems resilience. A holistic study on the health impacts of translocations on eastern black rhino (EBR - a species that relies its survival on translocations) is being used as a proof-of-concept to develop an interdisciplinary approach to monitoring the deleterious outcomes of translocations and demonstrate their direct conservation benefits on species survival and population growth. The study is being conducted by an interdisciplinary team of veterinarians, biologists and ecologists and involves all translocation phases (from candidate selection to long-term monitoring) focusing on 1) improving anesthetic and transport safety; 2) defining strategies to prevent acute and chronic stress and their health consequences using non-invasive endocrinology and behavioural monitoring by rangers; 3) assessing translocation disease risk linked to stress levels; and 4) establishing translocation risk factors and candidate selection criteria. The study is also being used to pilot a platform for field-friendly health monitoring and real-time reporting system of translocation health outcomes within the EarthRanger system. Preliminary results suggest that integrating standardized health monitoring approaches into translocation planning generates knowledge for building best-practice translocation guidelines, enables early detection of morbidity to prevent failure, and generates data to evaluate conservation outcomes.

We know non-human animals exhibit consistent individual differences (personality) in both their physiological and behavioural responses, however, we are still discovering how individual traits influence fitness. In some species, exploratory and bold individuals have the greatest reproductive output but lower survival. Conservation translocations rely on individuals surviving and reproducing; consequently, personality can impact translocation success. In this study we investigated individual and population-level physiology, behaviour, and survival across three translocations of a threatened Australian rodent, the greater stick-nest rat (Leporillus conditor). Animals were sourced from the last naturally-occurring wild population (remnant-wild), a wild population reintroduced ~35 years ago (reintroduced -wild) and a captive-bred population. We used faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) to measure stress physiology pre- and post-translocation. Individuals varied greatly in their physiological response post-translocation. At the population level, FGMs of the remnant-wild population did not change, while the reintroduced-wild population exhibited a significant decrease and the captive-bred population a significant increase. During capture and handling we scored the bold behaviours displayed by each individual. Behavioural consistency was assessed by comparing the scores of individuals caught more than once. Personality of captive-bred individuals was also measured in arena tests to quantify exploration (open field), boldness (novel object) and sociability (mirror). Behaviour varied between individuals and sex. Our next aim is to determine if source population, FGMs or behavioural traits are correlated with post-translocation survival. Our findings will improve future translocation outcomes by better understanding how personality and physiology influence survival and how individuals adapt following translocation.

The conservation translocation of keystone species is considered part of the solution to the current biodiversity crisis. The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is one such species, shaping their habitat by felling trees and building dams, creating nutrient rich ponds, and slowing the flow of water. The creation of these heterogenous habitats is a primary motivation behind beaver reintroductions. However, while their potential benefits to aquatic biodiversity and ecological functioning have been widely promoted, concerns arise surrounding the passability of dams for migratory fish species, and the impacts that changes in flow rates and sediment transport may have on salmonid spawning habitats. In 2021, the Scottish Government announced a change in policy on beavers in Scotland, which supported the translocation of individuals to suitable habitats to support the growing population. Therefore, the need for robust ecological data on the impacts of beavers on their environment is greater than ever. Modern molecular techniques enable researchers to sequence environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples which provides a cost-effective method to monitor whole communities and map out species distributions across a large catchment. This research will incorporate eDNA water sampling to collect both baseline ecological data prior to the translocation of beavers, and catchment wide data from established beaver populations across the Scottish Highlands, which will provide novel insights into how keystone species shape ecological communities. Thus, allowing more holistic and targeted management plans to be developed and implemented moving forward which will benefit both salmonids and beavers.

Many conservation breeding programs commence without incorporating empirical data on founder relatedness, which can accelerate losses of genetic diversity and inbreeding. Here we summarise how we incorporate empirical founder relationships into the genetic and demographic management of a genetic rescue program across a wild and captive metapopulation. A captive breeding program for the critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix) has been running since 1989, resulting in the release of more than 350 birds to the wild. The single remnant population of Helmeted Honeyeaters was as small as 50 birds, and remains under 200 birds. Inbreeding depression is evident within the wild population, and birds do not avoid inbreeding. A program of genetic rescue has been underway since 2017, where Helmeted Honeyeaters are bred in captivity with a related subspecies, and the offspring are released. This program is unique in having a near-complete pedigree for the entire metapopulation, which enables detailed monitoring of the progress of genetic rescue. Founder relatedness of all Helmeted Honeyeaters and Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters across the metapopulation is incorporated into a studbook. Pairing decisions for captive birds are made to produce the lowest mean kinship birds in the metapopulation, so that annual translocations reduce the inbreeding burden in the wild. The average inbreeding coefficient of wild birds can be analysed annually to track progress against the goals for genetic rescue. This approach enables more effective decision-making, improves the productivity of the captive population, and supports the genetic rescue of the wild population.

Kanakana, also known as piharau or pouched lamprey (Geotria australis), are an important traditional food source for Māori (the Indigenous Peoples of Aotearoa-New Zealand). This ancient, migratory fish is rapidly declining across Aotearoa-NZ because of threats such as habitat loss, migratory barriers and poor water quality. Moreover, conservation legislation for native freshwater species like kanakana is fragmented, and generally side-lines Māori rights and knowledge. As tāngata tiaki (guardians) of this taonga (treasured) species, several Māori communities are leading efforts to recover local kanakana populations through programmes which address multiple (biophysical/ecosystem, social, cultural, legislative) domains in interconnected ways. Our research explores artificial propagation and translocation opportunities for kanakana in partnership with Hokonui Rūnanga and First Nations communities of North America, who are actively involved in the conservation of their lamprey species. By centring Indigenous expertise and aspirations, this work aims to understand the technical, social and cultural aspects of captive breeding and translocating lamprey, including the development of a framework embedded in Te Ao Māori (Māori worldviews, including customs and protocols). We anticipate this work will guide future conservation efforts for kanakana locally and bring global attention to more just and holistic translocation approaches.

The Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) is a critically endangered endemic in Canada which has been captive-bred for 24 years for reintroductions and reinforcements that have increased the wild population from ∼30 to more than 200 individuals. Despite this success predation represents a major hurdle to marmot recovery. To better understand if captive-bred marmots are prepared for the environment into which they will be released, and to determine whether such suitability changes over time, we presented taxidermy mounts of mammalian predators and non-predators to marmots that were wild-caught, and captive born for between one and five generations. We also examined mortality of offspring from marmots we tested that had been released to the wild. A minimum of 43% of offspring were killed by predators in the wild over 17 years, most by cougars. Marmots in captivity generally responded to taxidermy mounts by decreasing foraging and increasing vigilance. However, marmots in captivity for more than two generations lacked discrimination between cougars, non-predators, and controls, suggesting a rapid loss of predator recognition. This study underscores the value of initiating behavioural assessments early in captive populations and repeating those assessments after a number of generations. That changes occurred relatively rapidly (within five generations), during which changes in genetic diversity were negligible, suggests that behavioral suitability may deteriorate more rapidly than genetics would suggest. Strategies addressing potential behavior loss should be considered, including sourcing additional wild individuals or pre-release training. Subsequently, post-release survival should be monitored to determine the efficacy of behavior-optimization strategies.

Specific High-Sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter UnLOCKing (SHERLOCK) is a CRISPR-Cas13a genetic detection platform originally developed for point-of-care pathogen detection that our laboratory has adapted for conservation applications. SHERLOCK can be used to genetically identify species or evolutionary lineages (e.g. subspecies, ESUs) that possess diagnostic genetic differences, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A SHERLOCK reaction indicates the presence of a taxon-specific genetic sequence in a biological sample by cleaving fluorescently labeled reporter RNA. This fluorescence can be detected with an inexpensive, portable fluorescence reader. SHERLOCK reactions are isothermal (no need for a thermal cycler), as sensitive as qPCR, rapid (results in 25 minutes or less), inexpensive (< $2 per reaction), and in some cases, do not require a DNA extraction. Once assays are developed, they can be performed by non-geneticists with minimal training and applied in non-laboratory settings. Thus, SHERLOCK has great potential to facilitate species identifications and post-release monitoring within conservation translocation programs operating in remote locations. One promising application of SHERLOCK is in situ disease screening of individuals prior to translocation, particularly for diseases that can be detected from skin, buccal, or rectal/cloacal swabs. SHERLOCK could also be used to detect eDNA or eRNA as a low cost monitoring tool complementing “traditional” post-release monitoring approaches. This poster will delve into the benefits of SHERLOCK and other CRISPR-based approaches, describe current conservation applications, and highlight potential future uses of greatest interest to conservation translocation practitioners.

The release of animals into small, temporary enclosures (“soft-release”) may assist with acclimation following translocation, potentially reducing post-release dispersal and increasing survival. However, the effectiveness of soft-release methods varies and has not been adequately tested for rodents.
In June 2023, Plains Mice will be reintroduced to a 5,800 ha feral predator-free fenced area in the Pilliga forest NSW following captive breeding. Given that individuals may disperse widely, suffer high mortality rates and be able to pass through the conservation fence, anchoring animals to suitable habitat and providing supplementary resources may be critical for survival and population establishment.
Upon translocation, we aim to test the efficacy of soft-release approaches in limiting movements of Plains Mice and increasing survival. A total of 20 Plains Mice will be released initially into four 0.01 ha soft-release pens (5 animals per pen) with food, water and shelter provided. Pens will be opened after 2 weeks and food, water and shelter maintained inside the pens for another 2 weeks. Another 20 Plains Mice will be released into adjacent and similar habitat outside of the pens. Movement and survival of the 40 individuals will be assessed using telemetry.
Results from this work will provide quantitative evidence of the utility of soft-release methods for rodent translocations and will inform future translocations of small mammals.

Since the rediscovery of the Gilbert’s potoroo (Potorous gilbertii) in 1994, translocations have been undertaken to insure the only remnant population in Two Peoples Bay on the south coast of Western Australia. At present, an estimated 120 individuals persist across four locations as a result of translocation successes. However, predation, anthropogenic climate change, as well as limited carrying capacity and gene flow across the population continues to pose issues for the species’ recovery. Further translocations to mainland sites have been identified as a priority but the potoroos’ unique diet and habitat requirements make selecting a suitable site a challenge. The species depends on hypogeous fungi that make up over 90% of its diet and current methods to determine habitat suitability include unreliable and labour-intensive manual searches for these fungi in proposed locations. This study seeks to refine these methods by using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. Next-generation sequencing will allow us to compare fungi consumed by the potoroos to the fungi that are available in their known habitats. Plant-growth trials will also aid in the identification of vegetation associated with potoroo’s preferred fungi, thus providing information on the dietary and habitat requirements of the species. eDNA techniques will then be applied to potential translocation sites to determine the abundance and diversity of hypogeal fungi in the area and inform its feasibility to sustain future populations of the Gilbert’s potoroo.

For many reptilian species, translocation remains the most viable climate change mitigation despite historical low success rates. Behavioural plasticity at the population/lineage level may be key to persistence under translocation. Using the endangerd pygmy bluetongue, a spider burrow dwelling grassland species endemic to South Australia as the study species, we aimed to determine the presence/absence of wild lizard lineage differences in behavioural response to temperature and relative humidity measured at the microclimate level and whether differences persisted at the translocation site. We found persistent lineage differences were found in with both behavioural measures. The two lineages showed marked differences in surface activity levels and responded opposingly to base-of-burrow humidity in the approach distance measure. Lineages varied in activity-temperature and activity-humidity ranges across the wild and translocation sites. Our results imply populations may vary in their hydro/thermal priorities and these differences should be taken into account during translocations.