Leveraging animal behaviour can improve translocation success in the face of anthropogenic stressors

Abstract

Anthropogenic stressors, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, destabilize animal populations, putting species at risk of extirpation or extinction. Conservation translocations, i.e. moving animals from one area of their native habitat to create new populations or bolster existing populations in other areas, are increasingly necessary to combat species decline. However, translocation success is variable, and failure is common, regardless of the resources invested in the programme. Additional anthropogenic stressors, such as climate change, pollution, harvesting, invasive species and human–wildlife conflict, further complicate the translocation process. Methods to reduce variable results and increase success are needed, and incorporating animal behaviour and its relevant theories has that potential. We reviewed cases where animal behaviour contributed to the success or failure of a translocation programme where anthropogenic stressors (in particular, climate change, pollution, harvesting, invasive species and human–wildlife conflict) contributed to or were the driving force of the programme's outcome. We further identify areas where conservation behaviour could be implemented to improve the success of translocation programmes and highlight why we need to better leverage our knowledge of animal behaviour to improve the success of translocations in a rapidly changing environment.