Release captive-bred marine and freshwater mammals to re-establish or boost native populations

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 2
Share Tweet Email

View assessment score

How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

30%
Certainty

30%
Harms

20%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Captive breeding for conservation purposes is normally used to provide individuals which can then be released into the wild (often called ‘reintroduction’) to either re-establish a population that has been lost, or to augment an existing population (‘restocking’). This intervention involves the release of captive-bred marine and freshwater mammals into the wild. For studies related to captive-breeding, see Breed marine and freshwater mammals in captivity.

Study locations

Key messages

Two studies evaluated the effects of releasing captive-bred marine and freshwater mammals to re-establish or boost native populations. One study was in the Porto de Pedras estuary (Brazil) and one in water bodies in Florida (USA).

COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)

POPULATION RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

Survival (2 studies): Two studies in the Porto de Pedras estuary and water bodies in Florida found that two of three Antillean manatees and two of 14 Florida manatees born in captivity and released into the wild survived for at least one year without further intervention.

BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A study in 1994–2012 in an estuary near Porto de Pedras, northeast Brazil (Normande et al. 2015) found that two of three captive-born Antillean manatees Trichechus manatus manatus released into the wild survived for at least one year. Two of three captive-born manatees (a male and a female) survived for at least one year after release into the wild and did not need to be rescued. The other male manatee died in the first year after release. Three manatees born in captivity (two males, one female) were released (aged 3–5 years old) in an estuary within a marine protected area between 1994 and 2012. Manatees were kept in enclosures at release sites for 15 days or 3–12 months prior to release. Manatees were fitted with satellite tags and tracked for an average of 972 days after release.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Normande I.C., Luna F.D.O., Malhado A.C.M., Borges J.C.G., Viana Junior P.C., Attademo F.L.N. & Ladle R.J. (2015) Eighteen years of Antillean manatee Trichechus manatus manatus releases in Brazil: lessons learnt. Oryx, 49, 338-344.
A replicated study in 1988–2013 at multiple freshwater, marine and brackish water sites in Florida, USA (Adimey et al. 2016) found that two of 14 captive-born Florida manatees Trichechus manatus latirostris released into the wild survived for at least one year. Two of 14 captive-born manatees (14%) survived for at least one year in the wild after release, occupied appropriate habitats, did not need to be rescued and were in good condition. The other 12 manatees required additional rescue(s) or medical treatment or died within the first year (number for each not reported). All of 14 manatees born in captivity were tagged and released (aged between <1 and >10 years old) at warm freshwater, marine or brackish water sites (number of each not reported) used by wild manatees. Each of 14 released manatees was monitored with radio-tracking and visual observations once or twice/week for at least one year in 1988–2013.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Adimey N.M., Ross M., Hall M., Reid J.P., Barlas M.E., Diagne L.W.K. & Bonde R.K. (2016) Twenty-six years of post-release monitoring of Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris): evaluation of a cooperative rehabilitation program. Aquatic Mammals, 42, 376-391.

Please cite as:

Berthinussen, A., Smith, R.K. and Sutherland, W.J. (2021) Marine and Freshwater Mammal Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions. Conservation Evidence Series Synopses. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Marine and Freshwater Mammal Conservation

Related Actions

	Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
	Breed marine and freshwater mammals in captivity Action Link	Trade-off between benefit and harms	6	Synopsis Link
	Release captive-bred marine and freshwater mammals to re-establish or boost native populations Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	2	Synopsis Link