Wild animal translocations: animal welfare risk assessment guidance

3

Full

Preparation

Capture, captive breeding, transport, veterinary, release protocols, welfare risk assessment. Provenance and associated genetic ‘health’ of donor population and associated individuals.

High-level habitat restoration/ management/ development of corridors; elimination/ reduction of competitors/ non-native species; vaccination of conspecifics or reservoir species.

2

High

Establishing population

Post-release monitoring, soft-release support, continuing vaccinations, capture of unfit/ injured individuals. Welfare risk review.

Medium- to long-term habitat restoration and management to achieve a desired outcome.

1

Low

Expanding and stabilising population

Management of population, e.g., translocations, culling; population censuses. Source of animals for further translocations? Welfare risk review.

Routine habitat maintenance (annual or less); mitigations for human effects, e.g., road building, other change of land use

0

Minimal

Stable population

Full ecosystem function restored. Periodic censuses to monitor population. Little or no intervention except ad hoc euthanasia of injured/ diseased individuals, release of rehabilitated animals. Source of animals for further translocations? Welfare risk review.

Minimal