Reintroduction of captive Greater Rhea into de wild: consequences of anti-predator training and human impact

VERA CORTEZ, M, NAVARRO, J. L., MARTELLA, M. B

Villa de Leyva

Conferencia; Capacity Building for Conservation Conference.; 2013

Previous studies have proposed reintroduction of captive-bred individuals as a measure for increasing threatened populations of Greater rheas. However, this conservation tool has usually a low rate of success because of the high post-release mortality due to predation, among other factors. Efficiency of training of Greater rheas against predation before reintroduction, was tested using a taxidermized puma to represent the natural predator. The experimental group was composed by eleven birds and the control by nine individuals. All of them were marked with Velcro leg bands and 14 were equipped with radio-collars. A soft-release procedure was performed, and the animals were monitored daily during the first week, and from 4 to19 consecutive days upon the first month. Thirteen rheas were alive three months after release, being the survival independent of the group they belong. Eight months after release, survival was nil. The causes of death included: pumas (1 ind.), poaching (8 ind.), dogs (10 ind.); one individual was euthanized due to a broken leg. Future training should include not only pumas but also humans and dogs as predator models, because they were the major sources of mortality.