American Bison - Buffalo Field Campaign

Legal, policy, political, and cultural constraints need
to be evaluated to determine if mitigation is needed or
possible;
Determine if the factors causing decline can be
eliminated or mitigated (e.g., diseases, over-hunting,
over-collection, pollution, poisoning, competition with,
or predation by, introduced species, habitat loss,
adverse effects of earlier research or management
programmes, competition with domestic livestock);
Where the release site has been substantial degraded by
human activity, a habitat restoration programme should
be initiated before the reintroduction is carried out;
A Population and Habitat Viability Assessment will aid
in identifying significant environmental and population
variables, and assessing their potential interactions,
which can guide long-term population management;
A priori agreement is desirable on population
objectives, monitoring, and methods that will be used
to manage population growth as the target population
size is approached;
Similarly, a priori agreement on range health objectives
and range monitoring and management methods is
desirable;
Determine the availability of suitable stock, including
subspecies or locally adapted forms, genetics (e.g.
cattle genes), and absence of specific diseases of
concern to conservation;
A feasibility assessment should include determining if
adequate funding is available to successfully complete
the project.
10.4.1.2 Suitable release stock
It is preferable that source animals come from wild
populations, or captive stock that have been subjected
to minimum management, such as selection for or
against specific morphological traits;
The source population should ideally be closely related
genetically to the original native stock and show similar
ecological characteristics (morphology, physiology,
behaviour, habitat preferences) to the original subpopulation;
Use stock from a source population(s) that has tested
negative for the presence of cattle gene markers, based
on the best available technology;
Stock must be guaranteed available on a regular and
predictable basis, meeting specifications of the project
protocol;
Individuals should only be removed from a wild
population after the effects of translocation on the
donor population have been assessed and after it is
certain that these effects will not be negative;
If captive or artificially propagated stock is to be used,
it must be from a population that has been soundly
managed both demographically and genetically,
according to the principles of contemporary
conservation biology;
110 American Bison: Status Survey and Conservation Guidelines 2010
Re-introductions should not be carried out merely
because captive stocks exist, nor solely as a means of
disposing of surplus stock;
Prospective release stock, including stock that is a
gift between governments, must be subjected to a
thorough veterinary screening process for pathogens
and exposure to pathogens before shipment from
original source;
If evidence of infection with any notable pathogen is
found, the translocation should be stopped and a risk
assessment conducted to determine the wisest action;
Assess the presence of pathogens in wild and domestic
species present in the re-introduction area;
Minimise the risk of infection during transport by
managing potential exposure to pathogens;
Stock must meet all health regulations prescribed by
the veterinary authorities of the recipient jurisdiction
and adequate provisions must be made for quarantine if
necessary;
If vaccination is deemed appropriate prior to release
this must be carried out allowing sufficient time for the
required immunity to develop before the translocation.
10.4.1.3 Preparation and release
Construct a multidisciplinary planning and management
team(s) with access to expert technical advice for all
phases of the programme;
Establish short- and long-term goals and specific
objectives, both for the bison population and for
the habitat and biodiversity management, including
success indicators and targets;
Define monitoring programmes for evaluating how
well goals and objectives are being met, and the
adjustments that may be required. Each re-introduction
should be a carefully designed experiment, with the
capability to test methodology with scientifically
collected data;
Secure adequate funding for all phases of preparation
and release;
Monitor the health and survival of individuals;
Secure appropriate veterinary expertise to ensure the
health of released stock, including adequate quarantine
arrangements, especially where stock is transported over
long distances or crosses jurisdictional boundaries;
Develop transport plans for delivery of stock to the site
of reintroduction, with special emphasis on ways to
minimise stress on the individuals during transport;
Determine appropriate release strategies, including
habituation of release stock to the project area,
behavioural training, release techniques, and timing;
Establish policies on interventions to manage parasites
and pathogens;
Establish, where necessary, a detailed containment
programme that includes fence design and monitoring
and protocols for dealing with escaped animals;