Translocation and radiotelemetry monitoring of black-tailed marmosets, Callithrix (Mico) melanura(É. Geoffroy in Humboldt), in a wildlife rescue operation in Brazil

Abstract

Five black-tailed marmoset Callithrix (Mico) melanura (Primates -Callitrichidae) individuals were monitored by radiotelemetry as part of a project on translocated wildlife affected by flooding the Manso River reservoir in the state of Mato Grosso, western Brazil (14° 52' S and 55° 48' W). The animals were monitored for eight months from October 2000 through August 2001. Only one death was recorded among the translocated animals. Two pairs established their home ranges in the new area, after some exploratory behavior. The new home range sizes varied from 0.72 to 4.27 km 2 . The home ranges of male and female overlapped in the case of both pairs by 0.59 to 2.30 km 2 . Trips were always made in pairs and not individually. The results indicate the feasibility of a successful translocation program for this species, as long as the animals are translocated to a similar habitat nearby.Keywords: hydroelectric plant, translocation, Callithrix (Mico) melanura, Cerrado, wildlife rescue, radiotelemetry. Palavras-chave: hidrelétrica, translocação, Callithrix (Mico) melanura, Cerrado, resgate de fauna, radiotelemetria.

Translocation and radio-telemetry monitoring of pygmy marmoset, Cebuella pygmaea (Spix, 1823), in the Brazilian Amazon

“…Group B had its estimated home range size at 1.05 ha, which was occupied for 52 days. For both groups, the time spent in establishing the new home range was similar to that observed for other primate species (Richard-Hansen et al, 2000;Marques et al, 2011).…”

“…support (Rodrigues et al, 2001;Richard-Hansen et al,2000;Trovati and Brito, 2009;Marques et al, 2011). As reported by Marques et al (2011), exploratory behavior is more frequently observed right after release.…”

“…As reported by Marques et al (2011), exploratory behavior is more frequently observed right after release. We believe that at this initial moment released animals forage in an unknown environment, where they probably lack spatial references that may lead them to low success while searching for food or roosting sites.…”

“…Some of these situations include programs for species conservation, management of metapopulations and reintroduction after wildlife rescue (Griffith et al, 1989;Vié, 1999;Fischer and Lindenmayer, 2000;Trovati and Brito, 2009;Marques et al, 2011). In Brazil, translocations are commonly conducted during wildlife rescues, especially during the filling of reservoirs of hydroelectric plants, which have been occurring more frequently in recent decades and whose numbers are expected to increase in coming years (CNI, 2007;Alho, 2011).…”

“…In Brazil however it is possible to note that few studies address the monitoring of mammals that have been translocated after wildlife rescue, especially during filling of hydroelectric reservoirs many of which are not documented (Neri et al, 1997;Rodrigues et al, 2001;Trovati and Brito, 2009;Marques et al, 2011). These published works employed radio-telemetry technique for monitoring translocated mammals.…”