Species translocation

Species translocation is an increasingly common practice both in wildlife conservation and as a mitigation tool, based on intentional and planned moving animals/plants. From one site for release in another in order o increase a species’ chance of survival or recovery or as a part of restoration programme.

There are 3 types of species translocation:

• introduction: moving into an area where the species is not known to have existed previously;
• reintroduction: moving into an area where the species used to exist;
• restocking: A number of individuals are added to an existing population.

Species translocation is particularly common in the management of threatened and keystone species, However, this method is also highly controversial. While translocations within a species’ current range are widely accepted, particular problems associated with moving species’ outside of their range – a type of translocation which has been called assisted colonisation or assisted migration. Pioneering reintroductions include Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) in European part of the Arctic.