No abstract

In translocation of captive-bred animals, mortality is often significant and impedes the successful establishment of a new population. Among the numerous reasons of failure, the first requirement of a newly released individual is to keep a positive energy balance by feeding properly. Individuals may exhibit diet disorders related to stress or may have developed behavioural, physiological and anatomic capacities adapted to captive conditions, but maladaptive once in the wild. We studied the diet of wild (n=42) and captive-bred (n=32) NorthAfrican houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulata) released in eastern Morocco. For this, we compared proportions and taxonomic compositions of plant and animal fractions from stomach contents. We showed that the diet of captivebred houbara is similar to wild individuals. The ability of captive-bred birds to shift from captive to a natural diet is probably facilitated by an innate omnivorous and opportunistic feeding behaviour and a likely learning period in contact with wild conspecifics.