Translocation of captive-bred dibblers Parantechinus apicalis (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) to Escape Island, Western Australia

Published source details Moro D. (2003) Translocation of captive-bred dibblers Parantechinus apicalis (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) to Escape Island, Western Australia. Biological Conservation, 111, 305-315.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Release translocated/captive-bred mammals to islands without invasive predators Action Link

Release translocated/captive-bred mammals to islands without invasive predators

A study in 1998–2001 on an offshore predator-free island dominated by shrubland in Western Australia, Australia (Moro 2003) found that following release on to an island free of introduced predators and rodents, captive-bred dibblers Parantechinus apicalis reproduced and numbers increased. Three years after the first release, more dibblers were confirmed to be alive on the island (67 animals) than in the first year of releases (26 animals). After three years, the proportion of females showing signs of recent reproduction (90%) was higher than after one year (20%). Of animals released in the first year, 10 of 26 survived for at least 12 months. Between 1998 and 2000, eighty-eight captive-bred dibbers were released on an 11-ha offshore island, free of introduced predators and rodents. All dibblers were individually marked and one-third was fitted with radio-collars. Twenty-five dibblers were radio-tracked for two weeks. For three to four nights, on 10 occasions from November 1998 to October 2001, up to 100 live traps were set across the island. New animals caught were marked to enable individual identification and females were examined for signs of recent breeding.

(Summarised by: Phil Martin)