Parasite management in translocations: lessons from a threatened New Zealand bird

Awareness of parasite risks in translocations has prompted the development of parasite management protocols, including parasite risk assessment, parasite screening and treatments. However, although the importance of such measures seems obvious it is difficult to know whether the measures taken are effective, especially when working with wild populations. We review current methods in one extensively researched case study, the endemic New Zealand passerine bird, the hihi Notiomystis cincta. Our review is structured around four of the 10 questions proposed by Armstrong & Seddon (Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 2008: 23, 20-25) for reintroduction biology. These four questions can be related directly to parasites and parasite management and we recommend using this framework to help select and justify parasite management. Our retrospective study of recent disease and health screening in hihi reveals only partial overlap with these questions. Current practice does not focus on, or aim to reduce, the uncertainty in most steps of the risk assessment process or on evaluating whether the measures are effective. We encourage targeted parasite management that builds more clearly on available disease risk assessment methodologies and integrates these tools within a complete reintroduction plan.