European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) restocking: Effects on abundance and spatial distribution

Abstract

The European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has suffered a dramatic reduction in numbers in many parts of the Iberian Peninsula over the past 50 years. The European rabbit is a keystone species of Mediterranean ecosystems and an important game resource. Because of its role as a prey animal, it is important for the preservation of globally threatened Iberian predators. Several techniques have been used to help wild rabbit populations recover. Restocking is one of the most important techniques because of its frequent use throughout the rabbit's Mediterranean range. In the present study, we analyzed the population dynamics and spatial behavior observed between 2004 and 2007 in 6 different wild rabbit restockings with subterranean tube warrens in 3 private estates located in Extremadura (SW Spain). In all the estates, increases in spatial relevance in the rabbit population were observed, with expansions across >150 ha in one of the estates and an average of 69.86 ha 2 years after the last release. After the rabbits were restocked, they were observed continuously in 2 of the estates for 3 years after the initial release. In these high-quality habitat sites, restockings have served as a source area. Restocking with subterranean tube warrens proved to be a suitable method for creating medium-term sustainable populations with medium abundance (10.88 latrines/km 2 yr after the last release). This technique can be broadly applied for managing threatened species dependent on the rabbits in Mediterranean areas and for other threatened fossorial species. Ó 2014 The Wildlife Society.

Long-term changes in the breeding period diet of Bonelli

“…This management action has already F o r R e v i e w O n l y Blanco 2006;González et al 2006;Ferrer et al 2013Ferrer et al , 2018 and the Eastern Imperial eagle (Aquila heliacal; Demerdzhiev et al 2011). These structures, considered as temporary and maintained for a medium timespan (e.g., five years) provide safe places where rabbits can breed and find refuge from predators, increasing their survival and therefore their population size (Fernandez-Olalla et al 2010;Guil et al 2014). This strategy could favour occupation of new territories and enhance demographic performance (i.e., breeding success and survival rate) of the Sicilian population of Bonelli's eagle (Di Vittorio et al 2018) over the short term until key factors attributed to population declines can be addressed.…”

Wild rabbit restocking: Suitable acclimation conditions foster adaptive behaviour and improve survival of captive reared rabbits

“…Between 1993 and 1995, in Doñana National Park only, 4300 rabbits were released for conservation goals (Villafuerte et al, 2001). There are successful examples even in areas where the species was not present before, although the habitat was suitable (see Guil et al, 2014). Yet this is not the usual outcome, especially if the number of rabbits to restock is low.…”