Fallow Deer Espionage

Interesting story on how a few Persian fallow deer were smuggled into Israel before the Iranian shah's government collapsed in 1978. (Via Kevin Stewart.)

Alberta Bison Restoration

Kevin Stewart passes along his letter to the editor about the controversy over restoring bison to the wild in Alberta.

Eastern Quoll

Thought extinct on mainland Australia since 1963, a couple of eastern quoll have been found DOR near Melbourne. They may be descendants of escapees from a local captive breeding program. (News source.)

Wood Bison

Alaska is restocking wood bison, now, in hopes of re-establishing herds. (News source.)

Carnivore Release Casualties

Turns out that only 30% of captive-born carnivores released into the wild actually survive. (News source.)

Sea Eagle Shot

One of the 15 white-tailed eagles reintroduced into Scotland appears to have been deliberately shot. Investigations are ongoing. (News source.)

Giant Wetas Reintroduced to NZ Mainland

From the Scoop:

"On Sunday 11 February, volunteers, trustees, iwi representatives and invited dignitaries will watch as up to 100 Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa) are released back into the wild at Wellington’s award-winning Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. This will be the first attempt to re-establish this species on the mainland since they became extinct here over a century ago.
"At around 70mm long, and weighing up to 27g, these mouse-sized insects are one of the world’s heaviest insects and, for many, the stuff of nightmares. But appearances can be deceiving. Deinacrida rugosa are gentle giants - herbivores far less ferocious than the smaller tree weta we find in our garages, gardens and gumboots!
"The weta will be collected on Matiu/Somes Island and released into two different habitat areas at the world-first wildlife sanctuary, where they will be safe from the rats and stoats that lead to their extinction on all but a few offshore islands. This is the first of four planned transfers – up to 450 weta will be transferred in total over four years. The source populations will all be from Matiu/Somes and Mana Islands. Giant weta will be the 15th native species transferred into the safety of the Sanctuary, and the first invertebrate released." ...
"Twenty of the weta will be fitted with radio transmitters so Sanctuary staff can monitor their movements. This is the first time transmitters have been used to track weta as part of a species transfer."

[Full news posted to StrangeArk archive.]