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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(3)

Remote camera monitoring and arboreal trapping methods used to evaluate the outcomes of a reintroduction of red-tailed phascogales (Phascogale calura) in Western Australia

Georgina E. Anderson https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1169-4954 A * , Georgia Volck A B , Phoebe Dickins A C and Amanda R. Bourne https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6078-0676 A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Australian Wildlife Conservancy, 322 Hay Street, Subiaco East, WA 6008, Australia.

B Stantec, 226 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia.

C Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia.

* Correspondence to: anderson.georgina.e@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Ross Goldingay

Australian Mammalogy 46, AM23040 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM23040
Submitted: 30 August 2023  Accepted: 12 June 2024  Published: 27 June 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.

Abstract

Effective monitoring methods are required to evaluate the success of wildlife reintroduction programs. To improve the threat status of the Vulnerable red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura), the Australian Wildlife Conservancy reintroduced the species to a fenced reserve at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary. After trialling a variety of post-release monitoring methods, remote camera monitoring and arboreal trapping with an extensive period of pre-luring provided the most information with which to evaluate the success of the reintroduction. To date, reintroduced red-tailed phascogales have increased in both occupancy and population size following releases which began at Mt Gibson in 2017. Other managers of red-tailed phascogale populations may find the described methods useful, particularly in the context of multi-species reintroductions where trap saturation can reduce capture rates of smaller species, such as phascogales.

Keywords: conservation translocations, Dasyuridae, fenced reserve, mammal reintroductions, marsupial, monitoring methods, multi-species reintroductions, red-tailed phascogale.

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