Thread by @tarongazoo

Once #feralpests were removed and undetected on #cameratraps or other surveys in the Taronga Western Plains Zoo sanctuary for some time, it was time to cut the ribbon, and the apron strings, and release the #bilby founders. #ScienceWeek

Of course, all #bilbies underwent thorough health checks with the Taronga Western Plains Zoo veterinary professionals prior to release. #WildlifeHealth

“Allow me to reintroduce myself”… some #bilbies were super keen to get on with the program, digging out of the pre-release yard into the #sanctuary. Fortunately, their radio-transmitters allowed the team to locate, catch and return them, ready for the official release.

The #bilbies settled in well, all the time under the close scrutiny of UNSW #PhDstudent Kate Cornelsen. #Bilbies are the burrowing superheroes of the bush, and a key focus of Kate’s work is on what makes a successful bilby. #SuperBilby #PhDlife

How do we measure success? At an individual animal level, we are using parentage analysis to link #bilby behaviour to breeding success. #DNA #genetics

By collecting a small amount of ear tissue from bilby founders, and their young, we can use DNA sequencing to identify the parents of all joeys born into the #sanctuary. These data help us estimate and compare individual #bilby breeding success.

#AnimalBehaviour is also key, & leads us to the question on everyone’s lips... Do #bilbies have personality? More importantly, does this help us explain variation in their post-release success? #Science (& @Kate_cornelsen) was keen to find out!

And #science is even keener on definitions... Broadly, personality traits are behaviours that are repeated over time and contexts. As such, ‘successful’ traits can be selected for, and their link to individual ‘success’ tested.

So it’s not just genes that might affect the success of animals in #reintroduction programs, and there’s increased interest in applying #AnimalPersonality research in this context. But how do you measure a #bilby’s personality?

Well @Kate_cornelsen is measuring #bilby personality using measures of ‘boldness’ (reactions to trapping, restraint, and release) and ‘exploration’ (reactions to novel-scent). Tests are repeated to see if individual behaviours are consistent, and therefore personality traits.

Physical size may also play a role in #bilby success in the #reintroduction program. We measured #bilbies before release to compare physical traits to success. Whether fortune favours the big bold #bilby is a work in progress, so stay tuned for the results