Translocation as a Conservation Strategy

To minimize biodiversity loss, conservationists have moved organisms from one location to another. These translocations are composed of reintroductions in areas where historic populations went extinct, supplementation of existing populations to enhance them, and introductions to novel locations. Populations and species may not be able to occupy historic sites in the future, and this introduces a new role for translocation. Some guidelines exist to increase the chances of successful translocation, but all translocations are fraught with risk. Scientists can evaluate these risks, but society must judge if humans have a responsibility to counteract the effects of global environmental change.