Studying the reintroduction of hand-raised wolves may embrace several interests such as deepening knowledge on wolf biology and allowing a controlled release in isolated populations in need of genetic influx. Studies on hand-raised wild animals, showing successful reintroduction, suggested that young released wolves might be able to survive in the wild without previous fastidious training. Most of their survival behaviours would be instinctive. In this study, nine young wolves were reintroduced in Tver region (Russia) and followed in order to evaluate their fear of humans, their movement patterns, thanks to GPS-Argos collars fitted to three of the animals, and assess their diet via four methods of scats analysis. We analyzed 46 wolf scats collected from August 2010 to January 2011. We determined the frequency of occurrences of items per scats and per items, and used the Relative Estimated Bulk to estimate the biomass of prey species consumed. Statistics were conducted to test for significance of method comparisons. The results showed that half of the wolves remained near the enclosure weeks to months after release, occasionally leaving the vicinity. The individual wolves behaved differently, they adopted various movement patterns and had diverse home ranges (from 15 km2 to 40 km2). Released wolves preyed more on ungulates, especially moose and on other wild mammals such as mountain hare. They also sporadically hunted domestic animals and regularly consumed vegetal matter along with smaller animals as alternative prey. Finally, all scat-analysis methods significantly assessed (p < 0.01) the relative importance of the main food types.

Reintroduction of Anatolian mouflon population at Bozdag Protection &amp / Breeding Station to its former habitats(Emremsultan Wildlife Development Area in Ankara-Nallihan, and Karadag in Karaman) started in 2004. The magnitude of genetic change among Bozdag and reintroduced populations was evaluated by 11 microsatellite loci. Study populations revealed close results (&plusmn / st.dev.) &ndash / Bozdag population: nk = 2.9091 (&plusmn / 1.1362), AE = 2.0250 (&plusmn / 0.9537), Ho = 0.3830 (&plusmn / 0.2717), He = 0.3956 (&plusmn / 0.2746) / Nallihan population: nk = 2.9091 (&plusmn / 1.1362), AE = 2.0592 (&plusmn / 0.9451), Ho = 0.4086 (&plusmn / 0.2977), He = 0.4052 (&plusmn / 0.2767) / and Karadag population: nk = 2.5455 (&plusmn / 1.1282), AE = 1.8809 (&plusmn / 0.8758), Ho = 0.3388 (&plusmn / 0.2775), He = 0.3607 (&plusmn / 0.2716). Population differences for major genetic parameters were not significant (p &gt / 0.05) by comparisons with paired t-test. Also, temporal change in genetic diversity for Bozdag population was investigated by comparison with temporal data. Temporal changes in genetic parameters were found to be not significant and possible causes for differences were argued. Additionally, genetic diversity and PI computations for different traps were verified and compared to uncover any potential bias due to the catching method. Comparisons did not reveal significant differences illustrating the homogeneity among traps. On the other hand, simulations detected the higher sensitivity of allelic diversity (A) to founder events than P and heterozygosity (Ho &amp / He) levels which supports heterozygosity excess method for bottleneck analysis. With the same simulation analysis, observed genetic diversity within reintroduced samples were found to be in the ranges of expectation (99% CI) indicating that translocated individuals were chosen randomly. Bottleneck analysis based on heterozygosity excess method (one-tailed test for heterozygosity excess: pSMM = 0.28515, pTPM = 0.06445, pIAM = 0.02441) and allele frequency distributions method (normal L-shaped) could not detect a recent genetic bottleneck for Bozdag population. However, simulations determined that these two methods are prone to type II error. Bottleneck detection failure for the study population is probably due to type II error instead of other sources of error like violations of model assumptions.

Listed as federally-endangered in 1990, the Lower Keys marsh rabbit (LKMR, Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) exists as a metapopulation in patches of wetland habitat in Florida’s Lower Keys. This study sought to address 2 priority actions identified by the LKMR Recovery Team: (1) monitoring of populations and (2) reintroduction. Monitoring the distribution and status of LKMR populations is critical for targeting future management actions. Informal transects for rabbit fecal pellets were used to survey habitat patches documented in1988–1995 surveys and to identify additional patches of occupied and potential habitat. Next, a buffer was created around patches to help managers account for uncertainty in rabbit movements and to identify groups of patches that might function as local populations. Surveys included 228 patches of occupied and potential habitat, 102 of which were occupied by rabbits. Patches were arranged in 56 occupied and 88 potential populations. Surveys revealed new patches of both occupied and potential habitat. Considering only areas included in 1988–1995 surveys, however, revealed a net decrease in the number of occupied patches. Many of the recently extirpated populations, which tended to occupy the periphery of larger islands or small neighboring islands, were unlikely to be recolonized without human intervention. Reintroduction provides a means of artificially recolonizing potential habitat. Two pilot reintroductions were conducted to evaluate this conservation strategy for the species. The second reintroduction was postponed, but the first effort met all criteria for short-term success, including survival comparable to a control group, fidelity to release sites, and evidence of reproduction. There are a limited number of potential source populations for translocations. Future efforts should consider using in-situ captive breeding to prevent potential long-term impacts to these populations. Few potential release sites exhibited suitable habitat quality and landscape context. Thus, for reintroduction to be more widely-applied for this species, it must be part of a comprehensive management plan involving land acquisition, control of secondary impacts from development, and habitat restoration and enhancement.

In our ever more populated world, the rapid expansion and intensification of agriculture is driving worldwide biodiversity loss, and the interactions between production landscapes and wildlife conservation are becoming increasingly important. Farming systems depend on ecosystem services such as biological control, while conservationists are calling for the establishment of conservation initiatives in non-preserve landscapes. Despite this, the goals of agriculture and the goals of predator-conservation are rarely mutual. Here, I demonstrate one of the first examples of a mutually beneficial scenario between agriculture and predator conservation. I used, as a case study, a reintroduction project that translocated individuals of the threatened New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) from the hills of Marlborough into vineyards, to determine if predators can survive within an agricultural landscape while simultaneously providing that landscape with biological control services. Examples of vertebrates providing biological control to agriculture are rare. I show that the presence of falcons in vineyards caused an economically important reduction in grape damage worth over US $230/ ha. Falcon presence caused a 78- 83% reduction in the number of introduced European pest birds, which resulted in a 95% reduction in the damage caused by these species. Falcon presence did not cause a reduction in the abundance of the native silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), but did halve the damage caused by this species. To assess the conservation value of the falcon translocations, I used remote videography, direct observations and prey analysis to measure the behavioural changes associated with the relocation of falcons from their natural habitat in the hills and into vineyards. Falcons in vineyard nests had higher nest attendance, higher brooding rates, and higher feeding rates than falcons in hill nests. Additionally, parents in vineyard nests fed their chicks a greater amount of total prey and larger prey items compared to parents in hill nests. I also found an absence of any significant diet differences between falcons in hill and vineyard habitats, suggesting that the latter may be a suitable alternative habitat for falcons. Because reintroduced juvenile falcons were released in areas devoid of adult falcons, it was possible that they were missing essential training normally provided by their parents. I used direct observations to demonstrate that the presence of siblings had similar effects to the presence of parents on the development of juvenile behaviour, with individuals flying, hunting, and playing more often when conspecifics were present. Finally, through the use of artificial nests and remote videography, I identified that falcons nesting in vineyards are likely to suffer lower predation rates. I also found that falcons in vineyards are predated by a less dangerous suite of animals (such as hedgehogs, Erinaceus europaeus, and avian predators), than their counterparts in the hills, which are predated by more voracious species (such as stoats, Mustela erminea, and feral cats, Felis catus). The work presented in this thesis has also added to the current knowledge of New Zealand falcon breeding behaviour, prey preferences, and behavioural development. Although agricultural regions globally are rarely associated with raptor conservation, and the ability of raptors to control the pests of agricultural crops has not been previously quantified, these results suggest that translocating New Zealand falcons into vineyards has potential for both the conservation of this species, and for providing biological control services to agriculture

Aquesta tesi es basa en el programa de reintroducció de la llúdriga eurasiàtica (Lutra lutra) a les conques dels rius Muga i Fluvià (Catalunya) durant la segona meitat dels 1990s. Els objectius de la tesi foren demostrar la viabilitat de la reintroducció, demostrar l'èxit de la mateixa, estudiar aspectes ecològics i etològics de l'espècie, aprofitant l'oportunitat única de gaudir d'una població "de disseny" i determinar les probabilitats de supervivència de la població a llarg termini.La reintroducció de la llúdriga a les conques dels rius Muga i Fluvià va reeixir, doncs l'àrea geogràfica ocupada efectivament es va incrementar fins a un 64% d'estacions positives a l'hivern 2001-02. La troballa de tres exemplars adults nascuts a l'àrea de reintroducció és una altra prova que valida l'èxit del programa.La densitat d'exemplars calculada a través dels censos visuals ha resultat baixa (0.04-0.11 llúdrigues/km), però s'aproxima al que hom pot esperar en els primers estadis d'una població reintroduïda, encara poc nombrosa però distribuïda en una gran àrea.La mortalitat post-alliberament va ser del 22% un any després de l'alliberament, similar o inferior a la d'altres programes de reintroducció de llúdrigues reeixits. La mortalitat va ser deguda principalment a atropellaments (56%).El patró d'activitat de les llúdrigues reintroduïdes va esdevenir principalment nocturn i crepuscular, amb una escassa activitat diürna. Les seves àrees vitals van ser del mateix ordre (34,2 km) que les calculades en d'altres estudis realitzats a Europa. La longitud mitjana de riu recorreguda per una llúdriga durant 24 hores va ser de 4,2 km per les femelles i 7,6 km pels mascles. Durant el període de radioseguiment dues femelles van criar i els seus moviments van poder ser estudiats amb deteniment. La resposta de la nova població de llúdrigues a les fluctuacions estacionals en la disponibilitat d'aigua, habitual a les regions mediterrànies, va consistir en la concentració en una àrea menor durant el període de sequera estival, a causa de l'increment de trams secs, inhabitables per la llúdriga per la manca d'aliment, fet que va provocar expansions i contraccions periòdiques en l'àrea de distribució.La persistència a llarg termini de la població reintroduïda va ser estudiada mitjançant una Anàlisi de Viabilitat Poblacional (PVA). El resultat va ser un baix risc d'extinció de la població en els propers 100 anys i la majoria dels escenaris simulats (65%) van assolir el criteri d'un mínim de 90% de probabilitat de supervivència. Del model poblacional construït es dedueix que un punt clau per assegurar la viabilitat de la població reintroduïda és la reducció de la mortalitataccidental. A l'àrea d'estudi, els atropellaments causen més del 50% de la mortalitat i aquesta pot ser reduïda mitjançant la construcció de passos de fauna, el tancament lateral d'alguns trams de carretera perillosos i el control de la velocitat en algunes vies.El projecte de reintroducció ha posat a punt un protocol per a la captura, maneig i alliberament de llúdrigues salvatges, que pot contenir informació útil per a programes similars. També ha suposat una oportunitat única d'estudiar una població dissenyada artificialment i poder comparar diversos mètodes per estimar la distribució i la densitat de poblacions de llúdrigues.Per últim, la reintroducció portada a terme a les conques dels rius Muga i Fluvià ha aconseguit crear una nova població de llúdrigues, que persisteix en el temps, que es reprodueix regularment i que es dispersa progressivament, fins i tot a noves conques fluvials. / This thesis deals with an otter reintroduction program carried out in the Muga and Fluvià basins in North-eastern Spain during the second half of the 1990s. The objectives of the thesis were to demonstrate the viability of the reintroduction, to demonstrate the success, to study ecological and behavioural aspects of the species, that have in the reintroduction an unique opportunity to dispose of a "designed" population and to determine long-term survival rates of the reintroduced population.Reintroduction of the otter in the Muga and Fluvià basins succeeded, because the geographical area occupied by the otter increased to 64% of positive otter stations in winter 2001-02. The finding of three adult otters born in the reintroduction area is further proof to support the success of the reintroduction program.Density values found through visual censuses were low (0.04-0.11 otters/km), but they approached what could be expected in the first stages of a reintroduced population, still small but extended over a wide area.Post-release mortality was 22% one year after release, similar to or lower than successful otter reintroduction programs. Mortality was due mainly to traffic (56%).The activity pattern of the reintroduced otters proved mainly nocturnal and crepuscular, with scarce diurnal activity. The ranges of the reintroduced otters were of the same order (34.2 km) as those found in other studies in Europe. Mean length of waterway used by an otter during 24 hours was 4.2 km for females and 7.6 km for males. During radiotracking two females bred and their movements could be followed intensively. The response of the reintroduced otter population to high seasonal fluctuations in water availability, typical in Mediterranean regions, consisted of concentration in a smaller area during summer droughts, due to the increase of dry stretches which were uninhabitable for the otter because of lack of food, and so caused periodical expansions and contractions in the otter population's range.Long-term persistence of the reintroduced population was studied through a Population Viability Analysis (PVA). The result was low risk of extinction in the next 100 years, with most scenarios (65%) meeting the criterion of a minimum of 90% probability of survival. Population modeling highlighted the importance of preventing road kills, which cause more than 50% of otter mortality, through the construction of fauna passages, the fencing of some dangerous road stretches and the use of speed restrictions.The Girona Reintroduction Otter Project tuned a protocol for trapping, handling and releasing wild otters that can provide useful information for similar programs. It also represented a unique opportunity to study an artificially designed population and to compare several methods of estimating otter distribution and density.Finally, the reintroduction carried out in the Muga and Fluvià basins has achieved the creation of a new otter population, that persists over time, reproduces regularly and is gradually dispersing, even to new river basins.

M.Tech. (Architectural Technology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Vigilance behavior can aid in the detection of predators and may also play a role in observation of conspecifics, in food acquisition, and in the prevention of kleptoparasitism. However, in most occasions, vigilance is most important as an antipredator function. Generally, factors that increase the risk of predation also increase the amount of vigilance. We examined whether the reintroduction of the large predator, the wolf, in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) would influence coyote vigilance and foraging ecology. From December 1997 to July 2000, we collected 1743 h of coyote activity budgets. Coyote home ranges occurred within wolf territories (termed high-use or nonbuffer zone areas) and also between them in buffer zones. In high wolf use areas as well as when wolves were present, coyotes fed on carcasses much more; however, they increased the amount of vigilance and decreased rest to prevent predation. Wolf kills may provide a quick source of food and be energetically advantageous to coyotes; however, costs include increased vigilance, decreased rest, and a higher predation risk. Vigilance and avoidance behavioral responses to the reintroduction of large predators may ultimately be more common outcomes than actual killing by competing carnivores of prey. Keystone carnivore reintroductions have a variety of cascading effects throughout the ecosystem and can be driven by both numeric responses (trophic cascades) and behavioral responses ("behavioral cascades"). Behavioral cascades resulting from increased vigilance or spatial changes may lead ultimately to numeric changes and trophic cascades.

I determined abundance, movement and activity patterns of the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis jamaicensis, RTHA) in Río Abajo Forest, Puerto Rico and surrounding lands during 2003-2004. Captive-reared Puerto Rican Parrots (Amazona vittata, PRPA) are scheduled for release in Rio Abajo Forest in 2006. Annual density of RTHAs (0.90 RTHAs/km2) was similar to the Caribbean National Forest (CNF; 1.29 RTHAs/ km2). RTHAs annual survival was high (0.89), and birds maintained compressed territories around the Rio Abajo Forest. Home ranges were 91% smaller than estimates reported for CNF, yet similar to those in North America. Approximately 98.3% of RTHA locations occurred outside the Río Abajo Forest boundaries. RTHAs exhibited random macrohabitat use patterns in north-central Puerto Rico. However, within their home ranges, RTHAs selected fragmented habitats with high patch and edge density, and avoided large tracts of dense closed canopy forest. Encounters between RTHAs and PRPAs may increase as parrots venture beyond the boundaries of Rio Abajo Forest.

The biological and socioeconomic feasibility of restoring elk (Cervus elaphus) to Virginia was assessed. Biological feasibility was determined by evaluating habitat suitability for elk while considering potential impacts of elk on existing fauna and flora in Virginia. Suitability was assessed by creating a habitat suitability index (HSI) model that measured the availability and accessibility of open foraging areas and forested cover areas, the availability of permanent water sources, and the degree of fragmentation by roads. Eight areas were identified as potential elk habitat: 1 in Southwest Virginia, 4 in the Shenandoah Mountains (Shenandoah, Highland, Big Meadows, Peaks of Otter), and 3 in the Southern Piedmont (Danville, Brookneal, Rehobeth). The highest potentials for supporting an elk herd were found in the Highland and Big Meadows study areas, medium biological feasibilities were found in the Southwest, Shenandoah, and Brookneal study areas, and low biological feasibilities were found in the Peaks of Otter, Danville, and Rehobeth study areas. A restored elk herd could negatively affect indigenous fauna and flora by changing the structure and diversity of existing forested ecosystems, but impacts can be minimized by maintaining elk populations at or below cultural carrying capacity. The introduction of diseases during restoration and possible transmission of those diseases from elk to humans, livestock, and other wildlife also are concerns, but these issues can be addressed by following a risk minimization protocol. Socioeconomic feasibility was assessed with a statewide mail survey of Virginia residents, 4 regional stakeholder workshops, an analysis of economic costs and benefits associated with elk restoration, and an assessment of the risks of elk-human conflicts in each of the 8 study areas. Overall, most (61%) respondents agreed that elk restoration would be good for Virginia. However, the low response rate (30%) and low confidence among respondents (49%) in their knowledge about elk indicated that most residents do not have the interest and/or necessary information to form a definitive opinion. Residents believe that the greatest benefits of restoration would be the value-based and indirect ecological benefits, such as returning an extirpated species to its native range, whereas the greatest perceived costs were the economic impacts to property, crop depredation, and public safety hazards. In contrast, local stakeholder representatives identified economic returns from increased tourism due to the presence of elk and the creation of new recreational opportunities as the most anticipated benefits; important concerns were the potential for property damage by elk, the potential impacts on local ecosystems, and the costs of implementing and administering an elk restoration program and subsequent elk management. Proposed resolutions for these issues varied by region. Representatives from the Southwest and northern Shenandoah Mountain (Shenandoah and Big Meadows study site) Regions preferred not to restore elk, whereas those from the southern Shenandoah Mountain (Highland and Peaks of Otter study site) and the Southern Piedmont Regions preferred to start out small with a carefully controlled and monitored "experimental" population. Economic benefits of elk restoration, as determined through analysis of data from other eastern states currently managing elk populations, are associated with tourism and the revenues brought to the community during elk hunting seasons, whereas economic costs are associated with crop damage, elk-vehicle collisions, and the administrative costs of managing an elk herd. Although the initial costs of transporting, releasing, and monitoring a founder population likely will exceed immediate benefits, once an elk population is established, benefits likely will exceed costs. However, an equitable distribution of costs and benefits must be devised so that the individuals who bear the costs are afforded a comparable or greater set of benefits. Risk of landowner elk-conflicts was examined by comparing human population densities and growth rates, percent private versus public land, and agricultural trends across the 8 study areas. Highest risk for elk-human conflicts was identified in the Southern Piedmont Region and in the Shenandoah study site, risk was moderate in the Southwest, Big Meadows, and Peaks of Otter study sites, and risk in the Highland study site was low. Overall, the Highland study site had the highest feasibility for elk restoration of all study areas examined; the Big Meadows and Southwest study sites both demonstrated moderate feasibility. Restoration in these areas is possible so long as management objectives remain flexible, plans are made in advance to address potential concerns, and the public is involved in the decision-making processes both before and after elk are released. / Master of Science

Um componente da conservação de animais selvagens é a relocação de espécies comumente referida como projetos de soltura. Para que esta seja bem sucedida os candidatos do projeto devem estar livres de patógenos considerados de importância para a espécie. Segundo a Instrução Normativa 179 oficializada pelo IBAMA em 25/06/2008, determinou-se a realização de exames laboratoriais como medidas a se prevenir a introdução de agentes infecciosos no ambiente, e garantir a sobrevivência a longo prazo dos animais em questão. No Brasil encontra-se a maior quantidade em espécies de psitacídeos, e das 84 espécies, 13 são vulneráveis a criticamente ameaçadas de extinção. Diversos projetos de relocação de animais silvestres, incluindo vários já bem sucedidos com psitacídeos, vêm sido realizados em território nacional além dos existentes do exterior. O Papagaio-de-peito-roxo (Amazona vinacea) tem suas populações severamente afetadas, sendo classificada no estado de São Paulo como criticamente ameaçada e como ameaçada a nível mundial. Apesar das dificuldades para a conservação dos recursos naturais, existem remanescentes de habitat protegido e em regeneração que podem abrigar espécies que historicamente ocupavam estes locais, de maneira que projetos de reintrodução visando A.vinacea como espécie bandeira em São Paulo e em Santa Catarina, foram contatados para realizar a pesquisa sanitária prévia à soltura. Foram realizados suabes cloacais em amostragens seriadas de modo a identificar possíveis portadores para os agentes paramixovírus tipo 1, influenza tipo A, poxvírus aviário, coronavírus, Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica (EPEC), e Salmonella spp., em indivíduos da espécie confiscados do tráfico, através da reação em cadeia pela Polimerase (PCR), objetivando sequenciar os possíveis resultados positivos, discutindo a viabilidade e custos segundo as determinações da IN 179/2008. Amostras após a liberação também foram coletadas na forma de fezes obtidas no recinto de aclimatação e/ou ao redor dos comedouros de alimentação suplementar. Obtiveram-se um total de 151 amostras somadas em todas as coletas seriadas, sendo 103 amostras de suabes cloacais de aves ainda em cativeiro e 48 amostras de fezes não individualmente caracterizadas das aves soltas. Das amostras testadas para os agentes com potencial infeccioso obtiveram-se apenas resultados positivos para E.coli, totalizando 36 isolados, embora nenhum tenha sido caracterizado como EPEC. Observou-se uma tendência para maior detecção de E.coli nas amostragens iniciais em comparação com as finais, fato ligado principalmente às melhorias no manejo empregadas. A possibilidade de se comparar resultados em amostragens seriadas foi importante para uma avaliação mais segura quanto à sanidade dos animais envolvidos, auxiliando a determinar a seleção das aves, não havendo relatos de doenças imediatamente após a soltura ou no monitoramento a longo prazo. A baixa frequência de amostras positivas para os agentes que poderiam inviabilizar a liberação parece demonstrar que existe um exagero de que doenças representam um risco extremo impedindo projetos de relocação. Procedimentos de quarentena adequados e a realização de um mínimo de exames reduzem os riscos envolvidos, fato observado no presente estudo tanto em cativeiro como no processo de liberação e posteriormente. Para as instituições amostradas havia um limitado recurso anual que não seria capaz de pagar por exames individuais. Uma opção é a de testar amostras em pool para diminuir os custos, e caso haja positivos, procurar retestar para identificar os indivíduos. A baixa prevalência de positividade para os agentes com potencial infeccioso neste estudo, demonstra que amostras em pool podem ser uma alternativa econômica, caso o exame individual esteja fora de questão. Tendo em vista que para obter um mínimo de segurança no projeto de relocação no Brasil depende-se quase exclusivamente da iniciativa privada, convênios com universidades tornam-se não apenas uma necessidade, mas também uma oportunidade para troca em direção a um objetivo em comum e geração de conhecimento científico. / One component in the conservation of wild animals is the relocation of species, commonly referred as release projects. In order for this attempt to be successful the candidates must be clear of pathogens of significance for the species. According to the normative rule 179 established by the IBAMA in 25/06/2008, it was determined that a series of laboratorial exams should be performed in order to prevent the introduction of infectious agents in the environment and guarantee the long term survival of the animals. The largest number of psittacine species is found in Brazil accounting for 84 species, with 13 of these classified as vulnerable to critically endangered. Several relocation projects with wild animals, including several well succeeded with psittacines have been taking place on a national scale besides others being carried out around the world. The Vinaceous Amazon (Amazona vinacea) have had its populations severely affected being classified as critically endangered in the state of São Paulo and globally threatened. Although there are challenges to conserve natural resources, available remnants of protected and regenerating habitat can be found and could support species that historically inhabited these sites, hence reintroduction projects with A.vinacea as a flagship species in the state of São Paulo and Santa Catarina were contacted to perform a health survey previously to the releases. Cloacal swabs were taken in paired samplings in order to detect possible carriers for paramyxovirus typ1, influenza type A, avian poxvirus, coronavirus, Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), and Salmonella spp.; in individuals that were confiscated from the illegal trade employing the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), aiming to sequence possible positive results and discussing the viability and costs according to the determination of the IN/179/2008. Fecal samples were also collected after the release in the acclimation flight and/or surrounding the supplemental feeders in the area while still adapting in the post-release. A total of 151 samples were obtained altogether with 103 of these being cloacal swabs of the birds still in captivity and 48 fecal samples non individually characterized of released birds. Out of the tested samples only E.coli yielded positive results with a total of 36 isolates, although none was characterized as EPEC. A tendency was observed for a higher detection of E.coli in the initial samplings compared to the final ones, a fact mainly connected husbandry improvements that were put in use. The possibility to compare results in paired samplings was important in order to obtain a safer evaluation concerning the health status of the animals, helping to determine the birds selection and no health problems reported neither immediately after the release nor on the long term monitoring. The low frequency of positive samples for the agents that could jeopardize a release seems to show that there is an exaggeration that diseases represent an extreme risk to the point of hampering relocation projects. Adequate quarantine procedures and performing minimum health examinations minimize the involved risks, a fact observed in this study both in captivity as well as in the release and post release process. For the studied institutions there was a limited annual budget that would not be capable to pay for individual exams. One option is to test pooled samples to lower associated costs, and if a positive is found, retest to identify the individuals. The low prevalence for the tested agents in this study show that pooled samples could be a viable alternative when individual exams are not feasible. Taking into account that to obtain a minimum in terms of safety for a relocation project in Brazil one is almost exclusively dependent on private parties, cooperation with universities are not only a necessity but also an opportunity for exchanges toward a common goal besides generating scientific knowledge.