Re-Introduction NEWS No. 20 August 2001
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Re-introduction NEWS No. 20 August 2001 Re-introduction NEWS No. 20 August 2001 Re-introduction NEWS No. 20 August 2001 Letter from the Chairman, IUCN/SSC Re- and activities In the past few months introduction Specialist Group, such as the Planning Protocol for Viable Environmental Research & Wildlife Reintroduction, an RSG email list- Development Agency, UAE server, Guidelines for Non-human DR. FREDERIC J. LAUNAY Primate Reintroduction as well as the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the The second issue of Re-introduction African Elephant Specialist Group and news, in the new quadrennium, provides RSG to draft re-introduction guidelines a summary of the activities the RSG for African elephants. We are also members have been involved in during working on developing a fund-raising the last triennium. You will see from strategy for the overall group, in order their reports that our different sections for us to be able to gain independence were very active in addressing re-introduction from our host organisation (actual and future) issues worldwide and taxa wide. All of the and be able to embark on more ambitious volunteers that makes RSG unique are to be programmes and projects. congratulated for their efforts in promoting viable re-introduction practices. The newsletter also gives you updates on several on-going projects from primate rehabilitation Since the beginning of the year, we have been busy programmes in Africa, beavers in Denmark, Swift renewing our membership as well as renewing the fox in the USA, Oryx in Saudi Arabia and plants Section Chairs that are so vital for the activities of in Spain. The news of poaching events in Saudi the group. Some sections are still vacant, but most Arabia, even of a limited scale is somewhat of the positions have been filled, and the full list worrying especially after the dramatic events that will be circulated to all members very shortly. Our occurred in Oman recently. It just highlights once membership is now over 300 spread all over the again that re-introduction is an ongoing processes world and addressing nearly all the taxa. This that never really finishes. gives us great strength and allows us to become more involved in a wider range of issues. The RSG Secretariat also initiated several projects CONTENTS Page CONTENTS Page LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN ............................................. 1 Saudi Arabia: summary and update: January 2001 ............. 16 Update of translocation of Thevenard Island mice to 1997-1999 RSG SECTION CHAIRS TRIENNIUM Serrurier Island, Western Australia: success REPORTS ................................................................................ 2 and excess ............................................................................. 17 Australasian / Marsupial section report ............................... 2 Aquatic mammal section report ........................................... 3 BIRDS ...................................................................................... 18 Bird section report ................................................................. 4 Re-introduction of the Marquesan imperial-pigeon to Carnivore section report ........................................................ 5 Ua Huka Island, French Polynesia ........................................ 18 Invertebrate section report ................................................... 6 Plant section report ............................................................... 7 PLANTS ................................................................................... 19 Primate section report ........................................................... 8 Plant micro-reserves: a new model of micro protected Reptile / Amphibian section report ....................................... 9 Areas, Spain ........................................................................... 19 Re-introduction of Lysimachia minoricensis in Minorca, RSG PROJECTS ...................................................................... 10 Balearic islands ..................................................................... 21 Planning for viable re-introductions ...................................... 10 Guidelines for non-human primate re-introductions ............ 10 REPTILES ................................................................................ 22 African elephant re-introduction Guidelines ........................ 10 Turks and Caicos iguana rescue and restoration program, Caribbean ............................................................... 22 MAMMALS ............................................................................... 11 Orangutan re-introduction and Protection Workshop, LEGAL ISSUES ....................................................................... 22 East Kalimantan, Indonesia .................................................. 11 Ecological and legal considerations for re-introduction Challenging developments in primate rehabilitation of mammals in Europe, with a UK case study ..................... 22 Programs, Africa .................................................................... 12 Re-introduction of beavers in Denmark ................................ 13 MISCELLANEOUS ................................................................... 23 Re-introduction of swift fox in the USA: results of the RSG e-mail listserver .............................................................. 23 first two years ........................................................................ 15 Book review ........................................................................... 24 Arabian oryx re-introduction in ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid, Publications ............................................................................ 24 1 Re-introduction NEWS No. 20 August 2001 1997—1999 RSG Section Chairs Triennium Reports Australasian / Marsupial Section Report was invited to serve as newsletter, but items can be These include all papers listed in Australasian Chair of the distributed immediately if rapid Griffith et al.'s database, and many RSG in early 1998. The feedback is required. People wishing others that are not. subsequent three years have to distribute items to Australasian Ibeen an extremely busy time for re- contacts should email me (D.P. Re-introduction introduction in Australasia. Particularly [email protected]). Items busy areas have been Western should be 200 words or less. related publications Australia, where there has been at least 30 translocations, and in New Website Zealand, where there have been at Armstrong, D.P. & Ewen, J.G. (in least 60 translocations associated press). Dynamics of a New Zealand with a wide range of island and Extensive information on re- robin population reintroduced to mainland restoration programs. This introduction in Australasia is available regenerating fragmented habitat, report covers my activities relating to at: Conservation Biology. the RSG up to the end of 2000. http://www.massey.ac.nz/~DArmstro/ Armstrong, D.P. & Ewen, J.G (in rsg.htm. press). Assessing the value of follow- Contact list up translocations: a case study using Summary information on a wide range New Zealand robins. Biological In March 1998 there were 26 RSG of projects can be obtained at: Conservation. members in Australasia. I have expanded this to a contact list of 110 http://www.massey.ac.nz/~DArmstro/ Armstrong, D.P. & Ewen, J.G. (in people involved in re-introduction. nz_projects.htm (New Zealand), press). Testing for food limitation in Lists of these people, information on reintroduced hihi populations: their expertise, and email links can be http://www.massey.ac.nz/~DArmstro/ contrasting results for two islands, accessed at: au_projects.htm (Australia), and Pacific to Conservation Biology. http://www.massey.ac.nz/~DArmstro/ http://www.massey.ac.nz/~DArmstro/ Armstrong, D.P. & Perrott, J.K. 2000. nz_contacts.htm (New Zealand), rsg_pa.htm (Polynesia). An experiment testing whether condition and survival are limited by http://www.massey.ac.nz/~DArmstro/ I have worked particularly hard on food supply in a translocated hihi au_contacts.htm (Australia), and gathering information for the New population, Conservation Biology 14: Zealand site, and it now includes 1171-1181. http://www.massey.ac.nz/~DArmstro/ summaries of 123 translocation rsg_pa.htm (Polynesia). projects conducted since 1990 Perrott J.K. & Armstrong D.P. 2000. involving 61 species. The site also Vegetation composition and Not all contacts are official members, includes information on contact phenology of Mokoia Island, and saving the costs associated with people (see above), publications (see implications for the reintroduced hihi distributing Re-introduction News. below), procedures and guidelines, population, New Zealand Journal of and links to other relevant websites. Ecology 24: 19-30. Communication Armstrong, D.P. 2000. Bibliographies network Reintroductions of New Zealand robins: a key component of ecological I have assembled lists of publications restoration, Re-introduction News 19: My primary focus has been to improve on re-introduction from New Zealand 44-47. lines of communication among re- at: introduction practitioners within Armstrong D.P., Castro, I., Alley, J., Australasia, and improve http://www.massey.ac.nz/~DArmstro/ Feenstra, B., & Perrott, J.K. 1999. communication between those nz_publications.htm Mortality and behaviour of hihi, an practitioners and the RSG as a whole. endangered New Zealand I encourage people to provide Australia at: honeyeater, in the establishment