THE POLITICS AND UNPREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES OF ISLAND TRANSFERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES - AN EXAMPLE FROM RUSSIA (THE EUROPEAN MINK, MUSTELA-LUTREOLA, ON KUNASHIR ISLAND)

The policy of conserving endangered species by translocation to protec ted islands creates many problems, which are here analysed using the e xample of the European mink (Mustela lutreola). Ten years after the fi rst release of European mink onto Kunashir Island (southern-most of th e Kuril Islands, located off the north-east coast of Hokkaido), there is still no information on the effects of the new arrivals on the biod iversity of the island. No effort had been made to determine which of the available islands would be least affected by the introduction. The use of islands for the conservation of rare animal species has many i mportant restrictions. Long before any introduction of alien biota to a natural ecosystem, the proposed release site must be thoroughly exam ined and all possible alternative sites considered.