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The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN.

Published by: IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group & Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi

Copyright: © 2018 IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

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Citation: Soorae, P. S. (ed.) (2018). Global Reintroduction Perspectives: 2018. Case studies from around the globe. IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, UAE. xiv + 286pp.

6th Edition

ISBN: 978-2-8317-1901-6 (PDF) 978-2-8317-1902-3 (print edition)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2018.08.en

Cover photo: Clockwise starting from top-left: I. Reticulated python, Singapore © ACRES II. Trout cod, Australia © Gunther Schmida (Murray-Darling Basin Authority) III. Yellow-spotted mountain newt, Iran © M. Sharifi IV. Scimitar-horned oryx, Chad © Justin Chuven V. Oregon silverspot butterfly, USA © U.S. and Wildlife Service VI. Two-colored cymbidium orchid, Singapore © Tim Wing Yam VII. Mauritius fody, Mauritius © Jacques de Spéville

Cover design & layout by: Pritpal S. Soorae, IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group

Printed by: Arafah Printing Press LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Download at: www.iucnsscrsg.org www.iucn.org/resources/publications

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Roe deer reintroduction in central : a tool for Iberian conservation

Rita Tinoco Torres1, Gonçalo Brotas2 & Carlos Fonseca1

1 - Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal [email protected] 2 - ACHLI - Associação de Conservação do Habitat do Lobo Ibérico, Rua 25 de Abril, 37, Esposende, Portugal

Introduction The Iberian wolf ( lupus signatus), a subspecies of gray wolf, is endemic to the . According to the IUCN, and the Portuguese Vertebrates Red Data Book, the Iberian wolf in Portugal is considered Endangered (EN), having suffered a significant decrease in its distribution and abundance throughout the 20th century, partly due to direct human persecution. have progressively disappeared from littoral, south and central regions of the country (Álvares, 2011). This top predator is considered a priority subspecies for conservation and is included in the Bern Convention, CITES and Habitats Directive. In central Portugal, south of the River, in the Arada, Freita and Montemuro (AFM) mountains, there is an isolated and fragmented population of Iberian wolf particularly vulnerable to local extinction (Pimenta et al., 2005). Wild prey, such as roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), is virtually extinct in central Portugal in areas inhabited by wolf, namely in the AFM mountain range (Cruz et al., 2014; Torres et al., 2014). The reintroduction of roe deer in selected areas of wolf range would once again allow the wolf a choice of natural prey, reducing attacks and decreasing human-wolf conflicts (Torres et al., 2015). Also politically, such measures would show that wolf conservation can be a dynamic process and not merely a passive protection. For this purpose, the reintroduction of roe deer in central Portugal would improve the productivity of the region by providing, in due course, a surplus of wolf wild prey.

Goals Goal 1: Reintroduce a viable and breeding population of roe deer in AFM Mountains. Goal 2: Increase the density and diversity of wild prey for the Iberian wolf, decreasing wolf livestock predation, thus reducing conflicts with humans. Goal 3: To contribute for the protection and conservation management of the Iberian wolf in Portugal. Roe deer in its natural habitat

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Goal 4: To serve as a model for future reintroductions.

Success Indicators Indicator 1: Successful adaptation to AFM mountains - individuals have survived for one or more years. Indicator 2: Successful reproduction has been monitored. Indicator 3: Successful contribution to Iberian wolf diet. Indicator 4: Stakeholders positive feedback.

Project Summary Feasibility: Feasibility and background research - We established roe deer habitat requirements and life history parameters by summarizing relevant information from literature.

Selection of the release sites - We investigated the habitat conditions needed for persistence of the reintroduced population but also the size and composition of the release groups. For that, we have identified the areas potentially suitable for roe deer, trough habitat suitability modeling, and evaluated whether this areas were sufficiently well connected to guarantee the establishment, the survival and the spread of a viable population.

Selection of the roe deer source populations - Since the 1990s, there have been reintroduced roe deer populations in central Portugal mainly for hunting purposes using stocks from and specially . It was unknown whether present day populations descend from local ancestors, from reintroduced or both, as the genetic structure of roe deer in Portugal is almost unknown. Therefore, we have analyzed the patterns of genetic variability and differentiation of the roe deer in Portugal and some areas of Spain, using both mitochondrial DNA sequences and microsatellite data. We have identified an adequate source population in Spain. We also established protocols for veterinary screening of release stock, handling and transport procedures.

Socio-economic and legal preparations - Although the wolf conservation is a priority for Portuguese Authorities, the focus is set on passive protection. Throughout six years there were several scientific, technical and bureaucratic issues that had to be clarified. The attitudes of local people towards wolf conservation and roe deer reintroduction were assessed and contact was established with several Overview of release site

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local stakeholders. The long-term financial support was assured by a private conservation fund - the Wolf Fund.

Implementation: One month before each reintroduction, the animals to be reintroduced were captured from the source population and subjected to a rigorous veterinary screening: all animals were tagged and blood samples were taken (for biochemical, haematological and Researcher radio-tracking released deer genetic analysis); biometric measurements were also collected. These animals were placed in a quarantine enclosure and tuberculin skin tested. On the reintroduction day, members of the team, including veterinaries, would capture the animals from the quarantine enclosure (Spain) and transport them to the release nuclei (Portugal). The animals were placed in individual transport boxes and at the bottom of each box, straw and a diaper was placed to make it possible to check the urine colour of the animals, indicative of some stress problem. During the transport, as well at the reintroduction nucleus, the veterinary team regularly checked the condition of the animals.

The first reintroduction took place during November 2013 and 12 animals (5 males & 7 females) were released, with half of them being equipped with GPS collars. The second reintroduction was during November 2014 and 24 animals (9 males & 15 females) were released in a different reintroduction nucleus (4 km from the first nucleus). Again, half of the released animals had GPS collars. The third reintroduction was during November 2015 and 22 animals (11 males & 11 females) were released in a different reintroduction nucleus (1 km from the second nucleus), with half of the released animals having GPS collars. The whole reintroduction process has been supervised by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas) and the stakeholders and general coordination of the project is assured by the Iberian Wolf Habitat Conservation Association (ACHLI), with the support of several partners (technical, scientific, logistic and institutional).

Post-release monitoring: Half of the reintroduced animals were fitted with GPS collars (a novel approach in Portugal for roe deer). We are now focused on examining post-release movements and space use patterns of the reintroduced roe deer population in the AFM Mountains. For the first two months after release, the ’s position was recorded every 30 minutes, after that it was every two hours and 55 minutes, which is a good trade-off between collars battery and results. We are now quantifying habitat selection, spatial use, activity patterns, intraspecific interactions, and parameters for the populations such as reproductive

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success, productivity and survival and dispersal behavior. Therefore, this is also a unique opportunity to improve scientific information about roe deer habitat adaptation, selection and population dynamics, which is completely unknown in Portugal. Additionally, after releasing the animals, several 1 km transects were systematically placed throughout the study area, providing equal coverage of different habitats that occur in the surveyed area. Transects were surveyed using pellet group counting (indirect method), a method that is frequently used to assess habitat use of large ungulates. This method also allowed confirming the presence, distribution and expansion of the released species. Additionally, vantage points and camera trapping were also used in order to sight the animals (direct method).

Major difficulties faced Bureaucracy regarding project implementation and animal translocation (Spain to Portugal). Mortality from poaching, which was high in the first year. Summer fires, which degraded part of the suitable habitat and enhanced mortality. Failure of some GPS collars - this lead to the loss of monitoring of some animals.

Major lessons learned AFM Mountains are highly suitable for sustaining roe deer populations. Reproduction and population growth is evident in the AFM Mountains. Intensive preparation of the pre-release phase and release strategies are vital to ensure high post-release survival rates. Through the development of a thorough reintroduction protocol, based on IUCN Reintroduction Guidelines, roe deer individuals can be successfully reintroduced in the wild and establish home ranges and reproduce. Roe deer reintroduction was highly accepted by the general community, and that could be used to raise awareness of Iberian wolf conservation.

Success of project

Highly Successful Successful Partially Successful Failure √

Reason(s) for success/failure: A reproductive and widespread roe deer population was successfully established in AFM Mountains. The use of large release groups, that includes a natural sex ratio (1 male per 1.5 females) and different age classes, but also several reintroduction nuclei, promoted a favorable social environment and rapid initial population growth. Long-term financial support. Political support and stakeholders coordination. The project is now recognized as an important Iberian wolf conservation project.

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References Álvares, F. (2011) Ecologia e conservação do lobo (Canis lupus, L.) no noroeste de Portugal. PhD thesis in Conservation Biology. Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa. Portugal.

Cruz, T., Fonseca, C., Carvalho, J., Oliveira, B. & Torres, R.T. (2014) Roe deer reintroduction in central Portugal: a tool for Iberian wolf conservation. Galemys 26: 31-40. https://doi.org/10.7325/Galemys.2014.A3

Pimenta, V., Barroso, I., Álvares, F., Correia, J., Ferrão da Costa, G., Moreira, L., Nascimento, J., Petrucci-Fonseca, F., Roque, S. & Santos, E. (2005) Situação populacional do Lobo em Portugal: resultados do Censo Nacional 2002/2003. Relatório Técnico. ICNF, Lisboa.

Torres, R.T., Silva, N., Brotas, G. & Fonseca, C. (2015) To eat or not to eat? The diet of the endangered Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) in a human-dominated landscape in central Portugal. PloS one 10(6): https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0129379

Torres, R. T. & Fonseca, C. (2016) Perspectives on the Iberian wolf in Portugal: population trends and conservation threats. Biodiversity and conservation 25(3): 411-425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-016-1061-6

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