Large predators are among the most threatened species on the planet and ways of conserving them in the face of increasing human populations and associated resource requirements are becoming critical. This book draws upon the experiences of some of the world s foremost large carnivore specialists to discuss the numerous issues associated reintroducing large predators back into their natural habitats. Reviews of internationally renowned reintroduction programs for wolves, European lynx and African wild dog reveal the successes and failures of these actions. Experts on tigers, snow leopards and jaguars contend that there are other conservation options of higher priority that will ensure their security in the long-term. Other experts discuss more theoretical aspects such as whether we know enough about these species to be able to predict their behavioural or ecological response to the reintroduction process. Social, economic, political and genetic considerations are also addressed.

Large predators are among the most threatened species on the planet and ways of conserving them in the face of increasing human populations and associated resource requirements are becoming critical. This book draws upon the experiences of some of the world's foremost large carnivore specialists to discuss the numerous issues associated reintroducing large predators back into their natural habitats. Reviews of internationally renowned reintroduction programs for wolves, European lynx and African wild dog reveal the successes and failures of these actions. Experts on tigers, snow leopards and jaguars contend that there are other conservation options of higher priority that will ensure their security in the long-term. Other experts discuss more theoretical aspects such as whether we know enough about these species to be able to predict their behavioural or ecological response to the reintroduction process. Social, economic, political and genetic considerations are also addressed.

List of contributors.Foreword by Hans Kruuk.Acknowledgements.Dedications.1. Reintroduction of Top-order Predators: Using Science torestore one of the drivers of biodiversity Matt W. Hayward &Michael J. Somers .2. A critical assessment of South Africa's managedmetapopulation recovery strategy for African wild dogs and itsvalue as a template for large carnivore conservation elsewhereHarriet T. Davies-Mostert, M. Gus L. Mills & David W.Macdonald.3. Reintroduction decisions taken at the incorrect social scaledevalue their conservation contribution: the African lion in SouthAfrica Rob Slotow & Luke T.B. Hunter.4. Recovery of Eurasian lynx in Europe: what part hasreintroduction played? John D. C. Linnell, Urs BreitenmoserChristine Breitenmoser-Würsten, John Odden & Manuela vonArx.5. Reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park:History, values and ecosystem restoration.Douglas W. Smith & Edward E. Bangs.6. Aspects and Implications of Bear Reintroduction Joseph D.Clark.7. Tiger reintroduction in India: conservation tool or costlydream? A. J. T. Johnsingh & M. D. Madhusudan.8. Snow Leopards: Is reintroduction the best option? Rodney MJackson and Som B. Ale.9. The Suitability of the Jaguar (Panthera onca) forReintroduction (what we know, what we need to know) Marcella J.Kelly & Scott Silver.10. The status and conservation of leopards and other largecarnivores in the Congo Basin, and the potential role ofreintroduction Philipp Henschel.11. Reintroducing the dingo: can Australia's conservationwastelands be restored? Chris R. Dickman, Alistair S. Glen &Mike Letnic.12. The role of social behaviour in carnivore reintroductionsMichael J. Somers & Markus Gusset.13. Survival of cheetahs relocated from ranchland to fencedprotected areas in South Africa Kelly Marnewick, Matt W.Hayward, Deon Cilliers, & Michael J. Somers.14. A framework for evaluating reintroduction success incarnivores: lessons from African wild dogs MarkusGusset.15. A synthesis of early indicators of the drivers of predatorconservation on private lands in South Africa P.A. Lindsey, S.Romañach & H. Davies-Mostert.16. Moving beyond the descriptive: predicting the responses oftop-order predators to reintroduction Matt W. Hayward.17. Genetic considerations in reintroduction programs for largeterrestrial predators Richard Frankham.18. Breeding Far Eastern leopards for reintroduction - thezoo program perspective Sarah Christie.19. Lessons learnt and plans laid: seven awkward questions forthe future of reintroductions David W. Macdonald.Index