Blog: Conservation Translocations - an Introduction

The BIAZA Reintroduction Advisory Group outlines many considerations to take when translocating species:

The Reintroduction Advisory Group (RAG) was set up in 2017 and operates in conjunction with other BIAZA committees, Working Groups, and relevant external partners. We support BIAZA members with conservation translocations in the UK and Ireland by promoting best practice for planning, captive breeding / propagation, translocation, and post-release management.

Conservation translocations provide powerful options for recovering biodiversity both at home and abroad. We encourage their use, where appropriate, and we hope our role will inspire more considered action with better chances of good conservation outcomes. As a start, we ask that all conservation translocations undertaken by BIAZA members follow the relevant guidelines.

At the global level this starts with the IUCN’s 2013 Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations. In many cases, individual countries have adapted these IUCN Guidelines into nationally relevant guidance and protocols including publication of ‘The Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations’ by NatureScot in 2014, and publication of ‘Reintroductions and other conservation translocations: code and guidance for England’ by Defra and Natural England in 2021. There are currently no country-specific codes for Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.

Based on these various guidance documents, RAG has produced a conservation translocation process flowchart to help guide BIAZA members through whether, and how, to undertake a conservation translocation. 

Good process in decision making, drawing on relevant evidence, will help ensure the best possible conservation outcomes. Outcomes from conservation translocation attempts will affect different people in different ways. It is important to consider the wider ecological assessment of the species and if possible, adhere to an existing regional or national species recovery/translocation strategy.

We encourage those undertaking conservation translocations to consider the wider socioeconomic landscape as well as how they will track both biological and societal outcomes to ensure objectives have been met. Nothing is certain in nature, and this can be even more so when using conservation translocation. Doing things properly doesn’t guarantee success but it will improve your chances and does allow for valued learning.

We have selected a few examples here that highlight both the risks that can be realised, and the benefits rewarded from conservation translocations.

Risks from disease, for example, have hampered attempts to reintroduce red squirrel. In these cases the reintroductions occurred in too close a proximity to resident grey squirrel populations. Grey squirrels both outcompete red squirrel and also carry squirrelpox virus, to which red squirrels are highly susceptible. Releases of red squirrels onto private estates that are surrounded by grey squirrel populations within the larger landscape has resulted in the red squirrels dying out. In some cases, red squirrel populations have done well initially only to crash once disease transmission from grey squirrels occurs.  

The Red Kite conservation programme is an excellent example of a good evidence-based conservation translocation. Initially a reintroduction (to Great Britain) by translocation (from continental Europe), the successful re-establishment of kites in England was made possible by extensive work before releases took place, in addition to careful post-release monitoring.  More recently, in 2022, ongoing growth of the kite population in Great Britain has meant that ‘reverse translocations’ of kites back to Spain – an original donor country for the first British reintroductions – is now possible (DEFRA, 2022).

‘Project Godwit’ an EU Life-funded partnership between RSPB and WWT undertook the first trial of ‘head-starting’ on a wading bird in the UK. Post-release/long-term monitoring was vital to assess whether this novel technique could be applicable to wading bird conservation. Dedicated staff using a range of techniques, e.g., colour rings, geo-locators, PIT tags and radio telemetry undertook extensive post release monitoring of head-started and wild birds. Results have shown that ‘head-started’ godwits, exhibit return rates, annual survival rates and reproductive rates comparable with ‘wild’ reared birds. They also undertake the same migration route down the west European flyway to Portugal, Spain, and West Africa. Without collecting this vital information on the ecological fitness of the birds post release, the project would not have known whether ‘head-starting’ helped or hindered this UK red listed species.  The information gathered from this project has also helped to inform and kick start similar projects for Eurasian curlew, Baltic dunlin, and black-tailed godwits throughout Europe (Batey et al., 2023).

In summary, if you are approached by an organisation to assist in a conservation translocation, it is vital that you are provided with evidence that appropriate licences and a conservation translocation process flowchart is in place, that best practice guidelines are being adhered to, and that evaluation and adaptation is occurring at every stage of the project.

This will ensure that the project has the best possible outcome and will provide evidence-based information, which will contribute to the best chance of long-term survival of that native species. Conservation translocations can be an excellent tool to ensure the long-term survival of species and habitats provided that best practice is adhered to. The Reintroduction Advisory Group is here to help guide you to ensure that your project has the best chance of success!

Useful references:

AEWA water bird translocation guidelines.

Batey, C., Burgess, M., Donaldson, L., Lee, R. & Smart, J. (2023). Ecology and conservation of breeding Black-tailed Godwits in the UK. British Wildlife 34(4), 235-245.

BIAZA RAG Resources Page

Introduction to BIAZA RAG PDF

Conservation translocations in Britain by British Wildlife Article 

Reintroductions and conservation translocations in England: code, guidance and forms  (Gov.uk)

DEFRA (2022). Conservation comes full circle - Natural England licenses translocation of red kites to aid conservation efforts in Spain. Natural England Blog. URL: https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2022/06/24/conservation-comes-full-circle-natural-england-licenses-translocation-of-red-kites-to-aid-conservation-efforts-in-spain/ (Accessed Dec 2023).

Gaywood, M. J., Ewen, J. G., Hollingsworth, P. M. & Moehrenschlager, A. (Eds.). (2022). Conservation translocations. Cambridge University Press.

 The Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations

IUCN Resources and guidelines for reintroductions and other conservation translocations

All blogs reflect the views of their author and are not necessarily a reflection of BIAZA's positions.