The Experts below are selected from a list of 40602 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Pritpal Soorae - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Reintroduction objectives decisions and outcomes global perspectives from the herpetofauna
Animal Conservation, 2014Co-Authors: John G Ewen, Pritpal Soorae, Stefano CanessaAbstract:Reintroductions and other conservation translocations are an important but often controversial form of wildlife management. Some authors have suggested the low success rates may reflect poor planning and decision-making. In this study, we used examples of herpetofaunal Reintroductions, published in four volumes of the IUCN's Reintroduction Specialist Group Global Perspectives in Reintroduction Biology, to identify the objectives set by Reintroduction practitioners, the indicators of success they choose and the types of difficulties they encounter. We found objectives focused on target species, but also on broader ecological objectives, such as ecosystem restoration, and social and economic aims. Practitioners reported high success rates: however, these referred to a mixture of general objectives, reflecting the fundamental aims of programmes, and technical aspects, such as developing husbandry protocols, that are important only as stepping stones for broader objectives. In some cases, important objectives were not assigned relevant indicators, thus making assessment impossible. Non-biological aspects such as funding dynamics were the most important source of difficulties; however, they were not always openly recognized by assigning relevant objectives and indicators. We argue that the adoption of a more structured approach to decision-making could help in addressing all these issues. In particular, we recommend that where possible, managers should clearly state all relevant objectives and constraints, and distinguish their respective relevance and importance. If such elements are not clearly defined a priori, planning and assessing Reintroductions can become difficult or even impossible, increasing the risk of inefficient use of resources.
-
Taxonomic bias in Reintroduction projects
Animal Conservation, 2005Co-Authors: Philip J. Seddon, Pritpal Soorae, Frederic LaunayAbstract:Taxonomic bias has been documented in general science and conservation research publications. We examined whether taxonomic bias is similarly severe in actual conservation programmes as indicated by the focus of species Reintroduction projects worldwide. We compiled a database of Reintroduction projects worldwide, yielding a total of 699 species of plants and animals that are the focus of recent, current or planned Reintroductions. Using IUCN (World Conservation Union) data for total numbers of known species worldwide, we found that vertebrate projects were over-represented with respect to their prevalence in nature. Within vertebrates, mammals and, to a lesser extent, birds, were over-represented, whereas fish were under-represented. This over-representation extended to two mammal orders, artiodactylids and carnivores, and to four bird orders, anseriforms, falconiforms, gruiforms and galliforms. For neither mammals nor birds was Reintroduction project bias related to any differences between orders in vulnerability to threat. Bird species that are the focus of Reintroduction efforts are more likely to be categorised as ‘Threatened’ than expected on the basis of the distribution of all known species over all threat categories, however, nearly half of all bird species being reintroduced are classified as ‘Least Concern’. The selection of candidates for Reintroduction programmes is likely to consider national priorities, availability of funding and local community support, over global conservation status, While a focus on charismatic species may serve to garner public support for conservation efforts, it may also divert scarce conservation resources away from taxa more in need of attention.
-
Reintroductions: whence and whither?
International Zoo Yearbook, 2003Co-Authors: M. R. Stanley Price, Pritpal SooraeAbstract:This paper reviews the occurrence and quality of Reintroductions of plants and animals, and the use of Reintroduction as a tool in conservation biology. The Re-introduction Specialist Group (RSG) of the IUCN/Species Survival Commission (SSC) was created in 1988 and the activities of the Group are described. Illustrations of innovative processes and practices, developed within improved frameworks of policies and legislation, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, show that Reintroduction has become a more rigorous discipline with the potential to contribute to community-restoration programmes. The activities of the RSG have contributed to this achievement.
Philip J. Seddon - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Advances in Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna
2015Co-Authors: Doug P. Armstrong, Matt W. Hayward, Dorian Moro, Philip J. SeddonAbstract:The publication of Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna nearly 20 years ago introduced the new science of ‘Reintroduction biology’. Since then, there have been vast changes in our understanding of the process of Reintroductions and other conservation-driven translocations, and corresponding changes in regulatory frameworks governing translocations. Advances in Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna is a timely review of our understanding of translocation from an Australasian perspective, ensuring translocation becomes an increasingly effective conservation management strategy in the future. Written by experts, including Reintroduction practitioners, researchers and policy makers, the book includes extensive practical advice and example case studies, identifies emerging themes and suggests future directions. Conservation practitioners and researchers, as well as conservation management agencies and NGOs will find the book a valuable resource. Although it is based on Australasian examples, it will be of interest globally due to synergies with Reintroduction programs throughout the world. 2015 Whitley Awards Certificate of Commendation for Conservation Biology.
-
Directions in Reintroduction biology
Trends in ecology & evolution, 2007Co-Authors: Doug P. Armstrong, Philip J. SeddonAbstract:Reintroductions are attempts to return species to parts of their historical ranges where they were extirpated, and might involve release of either captive-bred or wild-caught individuals. The poor success rate of Reintroductions worldwide has led to frequent calls for greater monitoring, and since 1990 there has been an exponential increase in the number of peer-reviewed publications related to Reintroduction. However, these publications have largely been descriptive accounts or have addressed questions retrospectively based on the available data. Here, we advocate a more strategic approach where research and monitoring targets questions that are identified a priori. We propose ten key questions for Reintroduction biology, with different questions focusing at the population, metapopulation and ecosystem level. We explain the conceptual framework behind each question, provide suggestions for the best methods to address them, and identify links with the related disciplines of restoration ecology and invasion biology. We conclude by showing how the framework of questions can be used to encourage a more integrated approach to Reintroduction biology.
-
Developing the science of Reintroduction biology.
Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, 2007Co-Authors: Philip J. Seddon, Doug P. Armstrong, Richard F. MaloneyAbstract:With recent increases in the numbers of species Reintroduction projects and Reintroduction-related publications, there is now a recognizable field of Reintroduction biology. Nevertheless, research thus far has been fragmented and ad hoc, rather than an organized attempt to gain reliable knowledge to improve Reintroduction success. We reviewed 454 recent (1990-2005) peer-reviewed papers dealing with wildlife Reintroductions from 101 journals. Most research has been retrospective, either opportunistic evaluations of techniques or general project summaries, and most inference is gained from post hoc interpretation of monitoring results on a species-by-species basis. Documentation of Reintroduction outcomes has improved, however, and the derivation of more general principles via meta-analyses is expected to increase. The fragmentation of the Reintroduction literature remains an obstacle. There is scope to improve Reintroduction biology by greater application of the hypothetico-deductive method, particularly through the use of modeling approaches and well-designed experiments. Examples of fruitful approaches in Reintroduction research include experimental studies to improve outcomes from the release of captive-bred animals, use of simulation modeling to identify factors affecting the viability of reintroduced populations, and the application of spatially explicit models to plan for and evaluate Reintroductions. We recommend that researchers contemplating future Reintroductions carefully determine a priori the specific goals, overall ecological purpose, and inherent technical and biological limitations of a given Reintroduction and that evaluation processes incorporate both experimental and modeling approaches. We suggest that the best progress will be made when multidisciplinary teams of resource managers and scientists work in close collaboration and when results from comparative analyses, experiments, and modeling are combined within and among studies.
-
Taxonomic bias in Reintroduction projects
Animal Conservation, 2005Co-Authors: Philip J. Seddon, Pritpal Soorae, Frederic LaunayAbstract:Taxonomic bias has been documented in general science and conservation research publications. We examined whether taxonomic bias is similarly severe in actual conservation programmes as indicated by the focus of species Reintroduction projects worldwide. We compiled a database of Reintroduction projects worldwide, yielding a total of 699 species of plants and animals that are the focus of recent, current or planned Reintroductions. Using IUCN (World Conservation Union) data for total numbers of known species worldwide, we found that vertebrate projects were over-represented with respect to their prevalence in nature. Within vertebrates, mammals and, to a lesser extent, birds, were over-represented, whereas fish were under-represented. This over-representation extended to two mammal orders, artiodactylids and carnivores, and to four bird orders, anseriforms, falconiforms, gruiforms and galliforms. For neither mammals nor birds was Reintroduction project bias related to any differences between orders in vulnerability to threat. Bird species that are the focus of Reintroduction efforts are more likely to be categorised as ‘Threatened’ than expected on the basis of the distribution of all known species over all threat categories, however, nearly half of all bird species being reintroduced are classified as ‘Least Concern’. The selection of candidates for Reintroduction programmes is likely to consider national priorities, availability of funding and local community support, over global conservation status, While a focus on charismatic species may serve to garner public support for conservation efforts, it may also divert scarce conservation resources away from taxa more in need of attention.
-
Influence of ambient temperature on diurnal activity of Arabian oryx: Implications for Reintroduction site selection
Oryx, 2002Co-Authors: Philip J. Seddon, Khairy IsmailAbstract:The distribution of the Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx had declined markedly by the time European explorers documented distributions, and the species became extinct in the wild by the mid 1970s. Consequently, historical distribution records may be unreliable indicators of current habitat suitability for Reintroductions. In this study diurnal behaviour of Arabian oryx was recorded within a central Saudi Arabian Reintroduction site. Oryx were less active on warmer days due to an increase in shading (resting in shade) at the expense of feeding time; there was an inverse relationship between temperature and feeding. During hot conditions (maximum ambient temperature >40°C) some individuals spent
Eileen O’rourke - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
The Reintroduction of the white-tailed sea eagle to Ireland: People and wildlife
Land Use Policy, 2014Co-Authors: Eileen O’rourkeAbstract:Human–wildlife conflict is a rapidly developing topic in biodiversity and conservation management. Restoration ecology and species Reintroductions have increased contact between people and wildlife which in turn has led to increased conflict. This paper explores the conflict surrounding the Reintroduction of the white-tailed sea eagle to Ireland. It provides a summary of how the diverse stakeholders – conservationists, farmers, tourist lobby and general public – interpret the eagle's homecoming after an absence from the landscape of over a hundred years. Species Reintroduction projects tend to be dominated by natural scientists, who emphasise the impartiality of science and often ignore or down play the socio-economic aspects of species Reintroductions. The conflict surrounding the Reintroduction of the sea eagles to Ireland reinforce the truism that behind all human–wildlife conflict, lies human–human conflict. The paper argues that the human dimension of species Reintroductions need to be taken seriously if the project management aims are to be achieved, and that legislation and law enforcement on its own will not solve human–wildlife conflict issues. The conflict between the ‘raptor and the lamb’ described in this paper highlights the need for the early involvement of all key stakeholders, and the importance of establishing effective dialogue and communications among the different parties. It should also be recognised that the Reintroduction of a species may not always be the right option to pursue.
Alan Rabinowtiz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Comments on “a framework for assessing readiness for tiger Reintroductions”
Biodiversity and Conservation, 2018Co-Authors: Dale G. Miquelle, Colin M. Poole, Simon P. Mahood, Henry Travers, Matt Linkie, J. Goodrich, Joe Walston, Kenserey Rotha, Alan RabinowtizAbstract:We comment on five aspects of Gray et al.’s (Biodivers Conserv, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1365-1 , 2017a ) framework for assessing the readiness of sites for tiger Reintroductions. Clarifications in numbers of tigers, available habitat and prey requirements indicate that more land and additional recovery of preferred prey species will be critical for a successful Reintroduction. A focus on threat assessments and mitigations will be more important than a focus on site management tools. Local attitudes and levels of poaching require more attention than in the current assessment, as they are likely to be major obstacles to successful large carnivore Reintroductions in Asia. Given the limited resources for rangewide tiger conservation, the value of such long-term initiatives must be weighed relative to the urgent need to recover and secure existing tiger populations before they also become extinct.
S Chapman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
a framework for assessing readiness for tiger panthera tigris Reintroduction a case study from eastern cambodia
Biodiversity and Conservation, 2017Co-Authors: Thomas N E Gray, R Crouthers, K Ramesh, Joseph Vattakaven, Jimmy Borah, M K S Pasha, C Phan, R Singh, Barney Long, S ChapmanAbstract:Reintroduction is a viable conservation strategy for large carnivores however such Reintroductions require robust feasibility assessments, considering ecological, management, and social factors, prior to implementation. Plans are being developed in a number of tiger range countries, including Cambodia, for tiger Panthera tigris Reintroductions in response to local and national extinctions. We provide a framework for undertaking feasibility assessments for tiger, and other large carnivore, Reintroductions and present a number of methodological tools, and appropriate indicators, for conducting such assessments. We apply the framework to plans by the Royal Government of Cambodia for tiger Reintroduction into Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary (formally Mondulkiri Protected Forest), eastern Cambodia. Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary forms part of a large (>13,000-km2) trans-boundary conservation landscape with potential to support a tiger source population. Current ungulate prey densities, assessed through robust line-transect sampling, at approximately 5.0 individuals per km2 may be sufficient to support a breeding tiger population. However levels of protected area management and law enforcement fall below global standards for tiger recovery. Local communities, though supportive of conservation efforts, also identified a number of concerns regarding Reintroduction. Therefore current ecological, social, and management conditions within SWS are not currently suitable for tiger Reintroduction. However with improved and more effective law enforcement, combined with robust monitoring of the indicators within our framework, such conditions could be met. We recommend that our framework for assessing landscape suitability for Reintroductions offers an effective road map for Reintroduction-based recovery of tiger populations across tiger range countries.
