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Review of
translocation of threatened species within Australia
This project, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry, compiled 380 translocations of 102 species of
native mammal, bird, reptile and amphibian within Australia to 2009. Of these 51% were of threatened
species. Reintroductions, typically
for conservation, were the most common form of translocation making up 65%
of the total.
For those translocations for which there was a definite outcome, the
success rate was 54%. However, some
40% of translocations had no clear outcome.
South Australia had the highest reported success rate of the states
and territories; Victoria and Western Australia the lowest.
Species with ten or more translocations included Brush-tailed Bettong,
Koala, Tammar Wallaby, Bilby, Brushtail Possum, Numbat, Southern Brown
Bandicoot, Burrowing Bettong, Malleefowl and Noisy Scrub Bird. There were comparatively few
translocations of reptiles and amphibians, but these appeared to be on the
increase.
Over 18,000 individuals of all species have been moved, evenly spread
between threatened and non-threatened species (excluding the > 10,000
Koalas that were translocated in Victoria in the period 1923 to 1988).
Factor implicated in the failure of translocations differed between
taxa. Predation was a key factor for medium-sized terrestrial mammals and
ground dwelling birds; the typically smaller size of release group was
important for birds.
A report to DAFF was delivered in
mid-2009, but research is continuing to resolve the many translocations of
indeterminate outcome.
Client: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
>> Other translocation projects: Shark Bay mammal project; Wadderin
Sanctuary project; Pilbara
rock-wallabies.
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