LAUSR

In mammal reintroductions, effective post-release monitoring often relies on the use of radio-transmitters. Collars are a popular attachment technique but are not necessarily appropriate for all taxa. However, other attachment methods may result in substantially reduced monitoring durations. We assessed several transmitter types for the Shark Bay bandicoot (Perameles bougainville), aiming to optimise animal welfare and attachment duration. Collars (fitted under general anaesthetic) were considered the optimal method and 12 bandicoots were collared and monitored as part of a reintroduction program. We found that our collars permitted monitoring for up to seven weeks, while causing minimal harm to the animals.