Reproductive capability of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) transferred from the wilds of Brisbane, Adelaide, and Armidale into captivity inBrisbane

The transfer of animals from the wild into captivity is an important strate gy for the conservation of species that are under threat of extinction. To determine the reproductive capability of animals following transfer from th e wild, brushtail possums relocated from Brisbane, Adelaide, and Armidale i nto captivity in Brisbane were monitored. Seventy five percent of the Brisb ane possums (N = 80) gave birth during the months from March to May followi ng transfer from the suburbs of Brisbane and 75% of the young born reached weaning. Thirteen adult females and four adult male brushtail possums were relocated from Adelaide into captivity in Brisbane in June 1994. Four young were born in :Brisbane, however none survived to weaning and all the reloc ated possums had died 2 years after their transfer from Adelaide. Seventeen adult females and seven adult male possums were transferred from Armidale to Brisbane in July 1996. In the first year, 1997, four young were born in Brisbane and none survived to weaning. In the second year, three young were born and survived to weaning. Two years after their transfer, one adult ma le and three adult females from Armidale and three juvenile possums were ho used in the Brisbane enclosures. As the Brisbane, Adelaide, and Armidale po ssums received the same photoperiod and environmental conditions, some fact or must have inhibited breeding activity in the Adelaide possums and to a l esser extent in the Armidale possums. The ability of the Armidale possums t o give birth and wean their young after 2 years in Brisbane would suggest t hat relocated possums require up to 2 years in order to adjust sufficiently to their new environment to reproduce. However, the failure of the Adelaid e possums to reproduce successfully after a similar period of time in Brisb ane suggests that certain environmental differences inhibit the ability of different populations of possums to adjust to a new environment. (C) 1999 W iley-Liss, Inc.