Rewilding

vogelcommando said:
Re-introduction of the Dalmatian pelican in the Netherlands and Belgium ? :

Dalmatian pelicans could return to the Netherlands | Rewilding Europe

and the report ( in Dutch with English summary ) :

https://www.ark.eu/sites/default/files/media/Kroeskoppelikaan_definitief.pdf
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I wonder if there are any news of this project? It would be very interesting and high profile reintroduction of a native animal.

Wild colony in Greece was recently reduced by half because of bird flu. But several zoos in Western Europe have breeding groups of Dalmatian pelicans on open lakes close to water-rich landscape outside the zoo: Avifauna at Alphen aan der Rhijn, Biotropica, Villars les Dombes... I can imagine they might let young fly free. Add young raised in other zoos and a free-living population can appear with low effort.
 
The largest captive herd of Southern white rhinoceros, at the 'Platinum Rhino' farm in South Africa, have come under the ownership of African Parks. The intent is for all 2,000 rhinos to be rewilded - some within South Africa, while others will go to other countries:
Rewilding 2000 Rhino

I imagine some may end up at Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where sixteen Southern white rhinos from Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa were released in June 2023. The hope is that they will fulfil the same role as the Northern white rhino:
White Rhino return to Garamba National Park
 
Jurek7 said:
I wonder if there are any news of this project? It would be very interesting and high profile reintroduction of a native animal.
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The most recent EAZA TAG report mentions that initial feasibility reports have been presented to the Dalmatian pelican EEP coordinator regarding reintroductions to both the Netherlands and the UK.
 
I think many users already follow the reintroduction of Northern Bald Ibis to the Alps. This years' group of 36 hand-reared birds guided by ultralight planes from Germany to south-west Spain just crossed the Spanish border:
Waldrappteam
 
DesertRhino150 said:
The most recent EAZA TAG report mentions that initial feasibility reports have been presented to the Dalmatian pelican EEP coordinator regarding reintroductions to both the Netherlands and the UK.
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I found a scientific paper that Dalmatian Pelicans lived in north and central Germany and Denmark, besides the Netherlands and England.

Bones of wild Dalmatian Pelicans were found in Weinberg/Hitzacker just 100 km from Walsrode, in Berlin, in Derenbug ca 100 km from Leipzig Zoo, and a number of places within 100 km from Nordsjællands Fuglepark.

First archaeogenetic results verify the mid-Holocene occurrence of Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus far out of present range. Journal of Avian Biology 46(4):344-351: https://www.researchgate.net/public...an_Pelecanus_crispus_far_out_of_present_range

This gives many new zoos which potentially may be interested in establishing a free-flying colony. The reintroduction makes even more sense that the climate warms and 40% of Balkan and ca 10% of wild population of Dalmatian Pelicans died in 2022 from avian influenza.
 
Common Hamsters (European Hamsters) have recently been reintroduced in the Tarutino steppe in Ukraine, this place has been known for the reintroduction in recent years of many species including the Asian Wild Ass or Kulan (once widespread in Eastern Europe).
The reintroduction of the Hamsters is supported by the Kiyv Zoo.
Such an event has a special importance now, with the conflict situation that Ukraine faces for more than a year.
Rewilding Europe on Instagram: "The European hamster is making a comeback to the wider Danube Delta #rewilding landscape! A second group of hamsters - which were once widespread across Ukraine - was just released on the Tarutino Steppe by @Rewilding_DD and Kyiv Zoo as part of a reintroduction programme that aims to establish a stable population of the species in the area. And don't let their size and cute looks fool you: these rodents actually have an important job, working on the basis of a healthy landscape! Quite literally. Rodents help to disperse seeds, while their burrows will create habitats for many other wildlife species and improve soil fertility. And at the same time, they're an important part of the food web and will even boost nature-based tourism Find out more about this #WildlifeComeback LINK IN BIO #RewildingEurope #BiodiversityMatters #EuropeanHamster #CircleOfLife #Hamster #RedList #Steppe #SpeciesReintroduction #SpeciesConservation #SpeciesTranslocation #ZooConservation #WildlifeConservation #Ukraine #Tarutino"
 
WWT have been awarded £400,000 to begin a new captive-breeding and reintroduction programme for the black-tailed godwit.

This comes just as the previous seven-year Project Godwit, which head-started and released godwits on the Nene and Ouse Washes, came to a close. This finished project has boosted the breeding population of godwits in Britain by 40%.

The new project will allow further head-starting but will also supply birds for future reintroduction projects in areas where they have become extinct. In 2024, a group of 20 black-tailed godwit fledglings will be released into the Fens.

More information can be found in the link below:
Godwit Futures Project awarded £400,000 to bolster endangered waders
 
35 Northern Bald Ibises guided by ultralight planes just completed the 2300 km migration from project Waldrappteam in Germany to Proyecto Eremita site in south Spain.

Waldrappteam

I think following these projects, other zoos and bird parks in Spain, Portugal, south and central France and Greece could start free-flying colonies of Waldrapps. Everything depends from an enthusiastic person coming up, but the project is very practcially possible. Waldrapp is globally endangered, large and native to Europe. They can overwinter in these regions, given their wintering in Italy, and regular wintering of other large insect-eating birds: introduced Sacred Ibis, Cattle Egrets, and Stone Curlews.

Balearics would be especially good. They have no predatory birds like Eagle Owls and large eagles. Tourism industry can use Waldrapps an aditional attraction, like reintroduced waterbirds in S'Albufera nature reserve. Waldrapp used to live in Balearics according to historic falconry books* There are two zoos in Mallorca: Safari Zoo Mallorca and Natura Parc, and wild bird reserve S'Albufera. Maybe one would be interested in freeflying Waldrapps?

Some zoos and bird parks already have Waldrapps. Zoo Doue la Fontaine has rocky cliffs, which it famously uses for exhibits. Why not have Waldrapps flying free? Le Jardin aux Oiseaux in Upie is also close to rocky areas and just 60 km from the proven historic occurence of Waldrapp** Réserve Africaine Sigean is on the Mediterranean coast, again close to rocky areas, which could be a natural nesting place. In south and central France, there are also Parc des Oiseaux in Villars les Dombes, Réserve zoologique Calviac, Parc Animalier des Pyrénées, and Zoo du Bassin dArcachon. In Spain there are: Canada de los Pajaros at La Puebla del Rio, Selwo Aventura, Oasys Mini Hollywood in Tabernas and Zoo Barcelona. In Portugal, Zoo Lisboa and Park & Zoo Santo Inácio. In Switzerland, south of Alps there is Falconerie Locarno, again close to a number of rocky cliffs and old buildings to nest.

I think actually ecological requirements of Waldrapp can be misunderstood. Released Waldrapps raise larger broods in farmland in Central Europe than wild in Morocco. They historically nested as a commensal of man in towns in Europe and the Middle East. Possibly Waldrapp could be subtly trained to roost and nest on buildings. Maybe urban habitat can be a refuge from eagle owls and hunting?

*Evidence of the historic presence of the Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) in Spain https://www.researchgate.net/public...orthern_Bald_Ibis_Geronticus_eremita_in_Spain
**Presence of the Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita (L.) during the Holocene in the Ardèche valley, southern France
https://www.researchgate.net/public...olocene_in_the_Ardeche_valley_southern_France
 
I have just seen this news from September, and will post it here for interest.

There has been a project launched with the aim of removing the invasive rats and feral cats from Floreana Island in the Galapagos. If this removal is a success, there are plans to reintroduce twelve species that are either extinct on Floreana or are close relatives of an extinct Floreana subspecies.

The twelve species planned for rewilding are:
  • Floreana giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger niger) are now extinct, but there are hybrids with high levels of Floreana genetics that will be used instead.
  • Floreana mockingbird (Mimus trifasciatus), which is currently extinct on the Floreana mainland and only occurs on two nearby islets.
  • Floreana racer snake (Pseudalsophis biseralis biseralis) has been extinct on Floreana since the 19th century, and currently survives on two small islets.
  • Vegetarian finch (Platyspiza crassirostris), which is among the most recent extinctions having only disappeared between 2004 and 2008.
  • Large ground finch (Geospiza magnirostris), which probably became extinct on Floreana soon after Darwin collected specimens there in 1835.
  • Little vermillion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus nanus), last recorded breeding on Floreana in 2008 and under threat across its entire range.
  • Galapagos rail (Laterallus spilonotus) probably disappeared in the mid-19th century, but may be able to recolonise naturally as happened on Pinzon Island.
  • Sharp-beaked ground finch (Geospiza difficilis), which has been extinct since the late 19th century.
  • Grey warbler finch (Certhidea fusca), using the San Cristobal subspecies as a replacement for the extinct Floreana subspecies.
  • Lava gull (Leucophaeus fuliginosus) which last bred on Floreana in 1984.
  • Galapagos barn owl (Tyto furcata punctatissima) which will need to be reintroduced after the birds it feeds upon have established themselves.
  • Galapagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis), with consideration made to both ensuring that they will not harm the populations of other reintroduced species and also mitigating conflict with chicken farmers.
More information can be read in the link below:
12 missing species set to return to Floreana - Galapagos Conservation Trust
 
DesertRhino150 said:
I have just seen this news from September, and will post it here for interest.

There has been a project launched with the aim of removing the invasive rats and feral cats from Floreana Island in the Galapagos. If this removal is a success, there are plans to reintroduce twelve species that are either extinct on Floreana or are close relatives of an extinct Floreana subspecies.

The twelve species planned for rewilding are:
  • Floreana giant tortoise (Chelonoidis niger niger) are now extinct, but there are hybrids with high levels of Floreana genetics that will be used instead.
  • Floreana mockingbird (Mimus trifasciatus), which is currently extinct on the Floreana mainland and only occurs on two nearby islets.
  • Floreana racer snake (Pseudalsophis biseralis biseralis) has been extinct on Floreana since the 19th century, and currently survives on two small islets.
  • Vegetarian finch (Platyspiza crassirostris), which is among the most recent extinctions having only disappeared between 2004 and 2008.
  • Large ground finch (Geospiza magnirostris), which probably became extinct on Floreana soon after Darwin collected specimens there in 1835.
  • Little vermillion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus nanus), last recorded breeding on Floreana in 2008 and under threat across its entire range.
  • Galapagos rail (Laterallus spilonotus) probably disappeared in the mid-19th century, but may be able to recolonise naturally as happened on Pinzon Island.
  • Sharp-beaked ground finch (Geospiza difficilis), which has been extinct since the late 19th century.
  • Grey warbler finch (Certhidea fusca), using the San Cristobal subspecies as a replacement for the extinct Floreana subspecies.
  • Lava gull (Leucophaeus fuliginosus) which last bred on Floreana in 1984.
  • Galapagos barn owl (Tyto furcata punctatissima) which will need to be reintroduced after the birds it feeds upon have established themselves.
  • Galapagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis), with consideration made to both ensuring that they will not harm the populations of other reintroduced species and also mitigating conflict with chicken farmers.
More information can be read in the link below:
12 missing species set to return to Floreana - Galapagos Conservation Trust
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A very ambitious project, will be great if they can achieve all their aims. The predator eradication phase is now underway I think.
 
Some it will maybe work. Some won't.. when I was a keeper people used to ask about wolves in the UK.. I used to laugh. I'm in Gloucestershire and we can't even handle wild boar in the forest of Dean.. uk mentality..no countryside Common sense..I survey reptiles for native conservation and do wildlife trips in European national parks..Big difference. Not just in size but attitude..go to national parks in spain and you don't see dogs running loose everywhere in boar areas..
We are too used to fenced trimmed countryside here..I deal with enough ignorance with adder surveys let alone large carnivores..
And big herbivores are just as or more dangerous than most predators..see the amount of idiots that that get too close to bison and killed..Big herbivores would be a challenge when people can't even use a dog lead...interesting concept. We have beavers in our area..Good for the ecosystem..takes a lot of preparation and monitoring to begin with..problem with the UK is...
There is barely any wild..I didn't see anyone for 9 hours in the mountains in one park on spain..only place possible here for that is probably cairngorm..too many people unless it's a very small local population of something v small and safe
 
A private landowner in Norfolk, at Deepdale Marsh, has announced plans to try and reintroduce the ruff as a breeding bird in the county. Planning permission for breeding aviaries and a bungalow for the on-site warden have been submitted. As well as creating wet grassland, the project has also made small lekking mounds for the male birds to display on.

Several conservation groups including the Max Planck Institute in Germany and Pensthorpe, the Zoological Society of East Anglia and Banham Zoo in the UK are all in support of the programme.

More information can be found in the link below:
Landowner plans to establish breeding Ruff in Norfolk - BirdGuides
 
Haliaeetus said:
Common Hamsters (European Hamsters) have recently been reintroduced in the Tarutino steppe in Ukraine, this place has been known for the reintroduction in recent years of many species including the Asian Wild Ass or Kulan (once widespread in Eastern Europe).
The reintroduction of the Hamsters is supported by the Kiyv Zoo.
Such an event has a special importance now, with the conflict situation that Ukraine faces for more than a year.
Rewilding Europe on Instagram: "The European hamster is making a comeback to the wider Danube Delta #rewilding landscape! A second group of hamsters - which were once widespread across Ukraine - was just released on the Tarutino Steppe by @Rewilding_DD and Kyiv Zoo as part of a reintroduction programme that aims to establish a stable population of the species in the area. And don't let their size and cute looks fool you: these rodents actually have an important job, working on the basis of a healthy landscape! Quite literally. Rodents help to disperse seeds, while their burrows will create habitats for many other wildlife species and improve soil fertility. And at the same time, they're an important part of the food web and will even boost nature-based tourism Find out more about this #WildlifeComeback LINK IN BIO #RewildingEurope #BiodiversityMatters #EuropeanHamster #CircleOfLife #Hamster #RedList #Steppe #SpeciesReintroduction #SpeciesConservation #SpeciesTranslocation #ZooConservation #WildlifeConservation #Ukraine #Tarutino"
Click to expand...
Do you know what affect the war has had?
 
A total of 43 landowners and farmers in East Sussex have come together to apply for a grant that will see 18,000 acres of land in the county restored to nature, including Ashdown Forest (made famous by inspiring the fictional 100-Acre-Wood from Winnie-the-Pooh).

Grazing animals will be used (with ponies pictured), and beavers and pine martens are planned for reintroduction. Other species mentioned, some of which may require reintroducing, as benefitting from the project include the nightingale, turtle dove and red-backed shrike.

More information can be found in the link below:
Ashdown Forest: Winnie the Pooh woodland bids for £750k Defra grant
 
I have just seen this article about the reintroduction of the giant tortoise to mainland Madagascar. The project is using the Aldabran giant tortoise as a stand-in for the Madagascan giant tortoise Aldabrachelys abrupta, which became extinct around 600 years ago.

The first group of tortoises, consisting of five males and seven females, first arrived in 2018 and have been released into the private Anjajavy Reserve in the Analalava district of Northwest Madagascar. Since then, the numbers have grown due to natural breeding.

The article about the project can be read below:
Madagascar: giant tortoises have returned 600 years after they were wiped out

I also decided to look up this Anjajavy Reserve to see if there was more information, and found that they have also started a project to reintroduce the aye-aye to the area; at the moment only a mother-daughter pair have been released in 2019.

The website about the reserve can be seen here - information about both tortoise and aye-aye reintroductions are at the bottom of this page:
Biodiversity | Anjajavy | The richness of nature

A scientific paper that followed the progress of the aye-aye reintroduction found that the adult female (the only animal tracked) adapted well and showed behaviour similar to aye-ayes elsewhere in Madagascar. The abstract of the paper certainly seems to suggest that further releases are now being planned for the future.

The abstract can be read here:
Initial Reintroduction of the Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) in Anjajavy Reserve, Northwestern Madagascar - PubMed
 
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