Reintroduction

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Reintroduction is the deliberate release of animals from captivity into the wild. It usually involves species that are endangered or extinct in the wild. In some cases, reintroduction involves a species that had been wiped out in a particular ecosystem, but survived elsewhere in the wild.

Beginning in the 1980s, biologists have learned that many mammals and birds need to learn a lot in order to survive in the wild. Thus, reintroduction programs have to be planned carefully, ensuring that the animals have the necessary survival skills. It is also necessary to study the animals after the reintroduction. The goals of this study include learning whether the animals are surviving and breeding, and what effects the reintroduction is having on the ecosystem, and to learn how to improve the process.

[edit] Ongoing or successful Reintroduction programs in the UK

• Red Kite in the Chiltern Hills, Dumfries and Galloway, Northamptonshire, North Yorkshire, Perth and Kinross, Black Isle and Gateshead - (successful)
• Osprey to Rutland Water - (successful)
• White-tailed Eagle to the Outer Hebrides - (successful)
• Great Bustard to Salisbury Plain - (ongoing)
• Black Grouse to Derbyshire - (ongoing)
• Corncrake to Cambridgeshire - (ongoing)
• European Beaver to the Cotswolds
• Wild Boar to several places in England - (accidental), (successful)

[edit] Planned or Proposed reintroduction programs in the UK

• Common Crane to England (proposed, due to commence 2008)
• European Beaver in Scotland (proposed)
• Wolf in Scotland (proposed)
• White-tailed Eagle to England and Wales (proposed, due to be reintroduced to Suffolk as soon as 2008)

[edit] Ongoing or successful reintroduction programs in other countries

• Brush-tailed Bettong in Australia (ongoing)
• California Condor in California (ongoing)
• European Beaver in several places in Europe (successful))
• European Otter in the Netherlands (ongoing)
• European Lynx in Switzerland (successful), and other parts of Europe (ongoing)
• Griffon Vulture in the Massif Central in France (successful)
• Lammergeier in the Alps (successful)
• Lesser White-fronted Goose in Sweden and Germany (ongoing)
• Musk ox in Alaska (successful)
• Northern Bald Ibis in Austria and Italy (ongoing)
• Père David's Deer in China (ongoing)
• Przewalski's Horse in Mongolia (ongoing)
• Golden Eagle in Ireland (ongoing)
• Wisent in Poland, Belarus (successful) and other parts of Europe (ongoing)
• Wolf in Wyoming (successful)

[edit] External links

• Reintroduction of Golden Eagle to Ireland
• BBC News release on Beaver reintroduction in England
• Scottish Beavers Network - campaigning for Beaver reintroduction in Scotland
• Reintroduction of Przewalski's Horse to Mongolia
• Reintroduction of Great Bustard to England