Southern brown bandicoots can be successfully returned to the wild after physiological experiments
Christine E. Cooper
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
Environment & Agriculture, Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. Email: C.Cooper@curtin.edu.au
Wildlife Research 38(1) 30-33 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR10144
Submitted: 18 August 2010 Accepted: 9 December 2010 Published: 15 March 2011
Abstract
Context: The poor survivorship of animals released into the wild for translocation, reintroduction or rehabilitation may be cited as a reason not to release experimental animals, but there is only limited information available on the fate of ex-research animals returned to the wild.
Aims: This study tested the hypothesis that there is no difference in the recapture of bandicoots used for physiological experiments and control bandicoots.
Methods: Six adult male bandicoots were trapped and maintained in captivity for three weeks for physiological experiments, then released at the capture site. Sixteen other bandicoots were captured and released immediately. Seven weeks after the release of the bandicoots used for physiological studies, follow-up trapping was carried out, and the survival, body mass and distance moved of recaptured bandicoots was recorded.
Key results: Survivorship did not differ statistically between bandicoots used for physiological experiments and control bandicoots, with five of six experimental bandicoots (83%) and 11 of 16 control bandicoots (69%) recaptured. Bandicoots used for physiological experiments lost a significantly greater proportion of body mass than control animals, but this occurred in captivity, not after release. The distance between recaptures for both groups (0–224 m) was consistent with previously published observations.
Conclusions: My results suggest that bandicoots maintained in captivity for non-invasive physiological experiments can be successfully released, with survivorship at least as high as that of control animals.
Implications: This study provides researchers, wildlife managers, and animal ethics committees with information to assist with making judgements concerning the fate of ex-research animals.
Additional keywords: marsupial, movement, release, respirometry, survivorship.
References
Augee, M. L., Smith, B., and Rose, S. (1996). Survival of wild and hand-reared ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) in bushland near Sydney. Wildlife Research 23, 99–108.| Survival of wild and hand-reared ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) in bushland near Sydney.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Broughton, S. K., and Dickman, C. R. (1991). The effect of supplementary food on home range of the southern brown bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae). Australian Journal of Ecology 16, 71–78.
| The effect of supplementary food on home range of the southern brown bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cooper, C. E., Vernes, K., and Cooper, T. (2009). Fate of released Antechinus flavipes after physiological experiments. Australian Mammalogy 31, 143–145.
| Fate of released Antechinus flavipes after physiological experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Copley, P. B., Read, V. T., Robinson, A. C., and Watts, C. H. S. (1990). Preliminary studies of the Nuyts Archipelago bandicoot Isoodon obesulus nauticus on the Franklin Islands, South Australia. In ‘Bandicoots and Bilbies’. (Eds J. H. Seeback, P. R. Brown, R. L. Wallis and C. M. Kemper.) pp. 345–356. (Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton, NSW.)
Estes, J. A. (1991). Catastrophes and conservation: lessons from sea otters and the Exxon Valdez. Science 254, 1596.
| Catastrophes and conservation: lessons from sea otters and the Exxon Valdez.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cvjtFWmtg%3D%3D&md5=616db13c59f227677cda547a49411a83CAS | 17782209PubMed |
Estes, J. A. (1998). Concerns about rehabilitation of oiled wildlife. Conservation Biology 12, 1156–1157.
| Concerns about rehabilitation of oiled wildlife.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fajardo, I., Babiloni, G., and Miranda, Y. (2000). Rehabilitated and wild barn owls (Tyto alba): dispersal, life expectancy and mortality in Spain. Biological Conservation 94, 287–295.
| Rehabilitated and wild barn owls (Tyto alba): dispersal, life expectancy and mortality in Spain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fischer, J., and Lindenmayer, D. B. (2000). An assessment of the published results of animal relocations. Biological Conservation 96, 1.
| An assessment of the published results of animal relocations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goldsworthy, S. D., Giese, M., Gales, R. P., Brothers, N., and Hamill, J. (2000). Effects of the Iron Baron oil spill on little penguins (Eudyptula minor). II. Post-release survival of rehabilitated oiled birds. Wildlife Research 27, 573–582.
| Effects of the Iron Baron oil spill on little penguins (Eudyptula minor). II. Post-release survival of rehabilitated oiled birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Griffith, B. J., Scott, J. M., Carpenter, J. W., and Redd, C. (1989). Translocations as a species conservation tool: status and strategy. Science 245, 477–480.
| Translocations as a species conservation tool: status and strategy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cvitlKqsA%3D%3D&md5=ed70190c27d84b98bab434b9f48ef4c5CAS | 17750257PubMed |
Heinsohn, G. E. (1966). Ecology and reproduction of the Tasmanian bandicoots (Perameles gunnii and Isoodon obesulus). University of California Publications in Zoology 80, 1–107.
Hessler, E., Tester, J. R., Siniff, D. B., and Nelson, M. (1970). Study of survival of pen-reared pheasants released in selected habitats. Journal of Wildlife Management 34, 267–274.
Jackson, S. (2003). Bandicoots. In ‘Australian Mammals: Biology and Captive Management’. (Ed. S. Jackson.) pp. 127–144. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Kleiman, D. G. (1989). Reintroduction of captive mammals for conservation. Bioscience 39, 152–161.
| Reintroduction of captive mammals for conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Larcombe, A. N. (2002). Effects of temperature on metabolism, ventilation and oxygen extraction in the brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 75, 405–411.
| Effects of temperature on metabolism, ventilation and oxygen extraction in the brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12324897PubMed |
Larcombe, A. N., and Withers, P. C. (2007). Effects of long-term captivity on thermoregulation, metabolism and ventilation of the southern brown bandicoot (Marsupialia: Peramelidae). Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology 177, 229–236.
| Effects of long-term captivity on thermoregulation, metabolism and ventilation of the southern brown bandicoot (Marsupialia: Peramelidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17072621PubMed |
Lobert, B. (1990). Home range and activity period of the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in a Victorian heathland. In ‘Bandicoots and Bilbies’. (Eds J. H. Seeback, P. R. Brown, R. L. Wallis and C. M. Kemper.) pp. 345–356. (Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton, NSW.)
Lunney, D., Gresser, S. M., Mahon, P. S., and Matthews, A. (2004). Post-fire survival and reproduction of rehabilitated and unburnt koalas. Biological Conservation 120, 567–575.
| Post-fire survival and reproduction of rehabilitated and unburnt koalas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Molony, S. E., Dowding, C. V., Baker, P. J., Cuthill, I. C., and Harris, S. (2006). The effect of translocation and temporary captivity on wildlife rehabilitation success: an experimental study using European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus). Biological Conservation 130, 530–537.
| The effect of translocation and temporary captivity on wildlife rehabilitation success: an experimental study using European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nagy, K. A., Bradshaw, S. D., and Clay, B. T. (1991). Field metabolic rate, water flux, and food requirements of short-nosed bandicoots, Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 39, 299–305.
| Field metabolic rate, water flux, and food requirements of short-nosed bandicoots, Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ostermann, S. D., Deforge, J. R., and Edge, W. D. (2001). Captive breeding and reintroduction evaluation criteria: a case study of peninsular bighorn sheep. Conservation Biology 15, 749–760.
| Captive breeding and reintroduction evaluation criteria: a case study of peninsular bighorn sheep.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pietsch, R. S. (1994). The fate of urban common brushtail possums translocated to sclerophyll forest. In ‘Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna’. (Ed. M. Serena.) pp. 239–246. (Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton, NSW.)
Reeve, N. J. (1998). The survival and welfare of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) after release back into the wild. Animal Welfare (South Mimms, England) 7, 189–202.
Sainsbury, A. W., Cunningham, A. A., Morris, P. A., Kirkwood, J. K., and Macgregor, S. K. (1996). Health and welfare of rehabilitated juvenile hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) before and after release into the wild. The Veterinary Record 138, 61–65.
| Health and welfare of rehabilitated juvenile hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) before and after release into the wild.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK283gs1Oluw%3D%3D&md5=101884973678ab4b6e6ee780c0c64c67CAS | 8629331PubMed |
Scott, J. M., and Carpenter, J. W. (1987). Release of captive-reared or translocated endangered birds: what do we need to know? The Auk 104, 544–545.
Sjöasen, T. (1996). Survivorship of captive-bred and wild-caught reintroduced European otters Lutra lutra in Sweden. Biological Conservation 76, 161–165.
| Survivorship of captive-bred and wild-caught reintroduced European otters Lutra lutra in Sweden.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas, L. N. (1990). Stress and population regulation in Isoodon obesulus Shaw and Nodder. In ‘Bandicoots and Bilbies’. (Eds J. H. Seeback, P. R. Brown, R. L. Wallis and C. M. Kemper.) pp. 335–343. (Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton, NSW.)
Tribe, A. (2002). Wildlife care and rehabilitation – what can we learn? Rehabilitation and Release 1, 4–5.
Tyndale-Biscoe, H. (2005). ‘Life of Marsupials.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Underhill, L. G., Bartlet, P. A., Baumann, L., Crawford, R. J. M., Dryer, B. M., Gildernhuys, A., Nel, D. C., Oatley, T. B., Thornton, M., Upfold, L., Williams, A. J., Whittington, P. A., and Wolfaardt, A. C. (1999). Mortality and survival of African penguins Spheniscus demersus involved in the Apollo Sea oil spill: an evaluation of rehabilitation efforts. Ibis 141, 29–37.
Wolf, M., Griffith, B., Reed, C., and Temple, S. A. (1996). Avian and mammalian translocation: update and reanalysis of 1987 survey data. Conservation Biology 10, 1142–1154.
| Avian and mammalian translocation: update and reanalysis of 1987 survey data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Withers, P. C. (2001). Design, calibration and calculation for flow-through respirometry systems. Australian Journal of Zoology 49, 445–461.
| Design, calibration and calculation for flow-through respirometry systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zar, J. H. (1999). ‘Biostatistical Analysis.’ (Prentice Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ.)
