Fauna-rescue programs can successfully relocate vertebrate fauna prior to and during vegetation-clearing programs
Scott A. Thompson and Graham G. ThompsonTerrestrial Ecosystems, 10 Houston Place, Mt Claremont, WA 6010, Australia. Email: scott@terrestrialecosystems.com; graham@terrestrialecosystems.com
Pacific Conservation Biology 21(3) 220-225 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC14922
Submitted: 29 December 2014 Accepted: 30 June 2015 Published: 24 July 2015
Abstract
Vegetation clearing is often a precursor to urban, industrial and mining developments. Vertebrate fauna are often lost and injured during this process; however, these impacts are often mitigated by implementing a fauna rescue program. Here we report on the success of a trapping and relocation program and the use of fauna rescue personnel to remove vertebrate fauna from two vegetation-clearing programs. We provide comment on the impact of various machines that are used in the clearing process and which taxa have the higher survival rates, and conclude with some management recommendations that will provide better outcomes for vertebrate fauna during vegetation-clearing programs.
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