Journal article

Bandicoots return to Booderee: Initial survival, dispersal, home range and habitat preferences of reintroduced southern brown bandicoots (eastern sub species; Isoodon obesulus obesulus)

NM Robinson, CI MacGregor, BA Hradsky, N Dexter, DB Lindenmayer

Wildlife Research | CSIRO PUBLISHING | Published : 2018

Abstract

Context. Reintroductions can be an effective means of re-establishing locally extinct or declining faunal populations. However, incomplete knowledge of variables influencing survival and establishment can limit successful outcomes. Aim. We aimed to examine the factors (e.g. sex, body mass, release order) influencing the survival, dispersal, home range and habitat selection of reintroduced southern brown bandicoots (eastern subspecies; Isoodon obesulus obesulus) into an unfenced, predator-managed environment in south-eastern Australia (Booderee National Park). Methods. Over 2 weeks in May 2016, six female and five male bandicoots were wild-caught in state forest and hard released into the par..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

This study was supported by funding from the Australian Government's National Environmental Science Program through the Threatened Species Recovery Hub. A translocation permit was granted by the Australian Government Department of Environment, under Section(s) 201 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Permit No. E2015-0103). Research was approved by the Australian National University Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (Protocol No. A2015/26) and was undertaken according to the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes. Parks Australia led the reintroduction program, with support from Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council, Rohan Bilney and Peter Kambouris from the NSW Forestry Corporation, Karri Rose and Jane Hall from the Taronga Conservation Society, the Australian Government Threatened Species Commissioner and many volunteers. BNP is a Long-term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) site within TERN.