Health surveillance in wildlife reintroductions

Reintroductions and translocations are increasingly used as conservation tools. However, despite guidelines recommending that health-screening be an integral part of such programmes, few reports are available. For most species, even baseline data, against which to compare future results, are not published. Here we report two case studies of health surveillance in wildlife reintroduction programmes – for water voles (Arvicola terrestris) in Australia, and for marsupial dibblers (Parantechinus apicalis) in the UK. These illustrate the potential importance of even basic screening strategies in helping to avoid disease transfer and identifying predictors of survival. Factors to be considered in the design of future monitoring schemes are also discussed.