Should We Consider the Translocation of Gorilla Populations?

It is clearly much better, ethically and economically, to translocate rather than to reintroduce. As much income and expertise as possible should be generated in the habitat country. One has to find adequate space, with adequate food and protection. Intact social groups must be moved (caught by tranquilliser-dart-guns), when populations are faced with imminent extinction. The project has to be coordinated by an expert on wildlife translocation, with adequate knowledge of primates, preferably a veterinary surgeon, in collaboration with a wildlife/conservation expert/official of the country concerned. It should be initiated by primatologists with the relevant data, and by wildlife/forestry authorities with control over the appropriate land.
Translocations have been more successful for bird and mammal game species (86%) than for endangered species (46%). For primates, translocations of rhesus macaques in India and olive baboons in Kenya have been successful.

David Chivers

Dr. David J. Chivers is Lecturer at the University of Cambridge and Head of the Wildlife Research Group. He works in Indonesia on seed dispersal and the natural regeneration of forest. He is a member of the Conservation Committee of the International Primatological Society and of the Primate Specialist Group, IUCN/SSC as well as Vice-Chairman of Fauna and Flora International.

Esteban Sarmiento

Juichi Yamagiwa

John E. Cooper

Kelly Stewart and Sandy Harcourt

Translocation overview

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