La translocation de la faune sauvage de Petit Saut : apport pour la connaissance scientifique et la conservation de la nature en Guyane

摘要

Many wildlife rescues have been carried out over the past few decades, but most were not documented and remain controversial. However, we believe that such operations are useful, providing the risks are evaluated and elementary guidelines are followed. Not only do they benefit the rescued animals and appear reasonable from an ethical standpoint, but, we also argue, such operations, if well prepared and documented, can be very useful in terms of biology and conservation and are far preferable to the other option - looking on and doing nothing. After reviewing previous translocations, the article describes the operation conducted in French Guiana during the filling of the Petit Saut reservoir and discusses its objectives, methods, results and financial aspects. Around 5,500 mammals and reptiles were captured, sampled and translocated to a protected area where a post-release survey was undertaken. The good results of the translocation, the large amount of original data, the interest shown by scientists in our samples and the new conservation approach coming to the fore in the political arena corroborate our initial conviction that this operation was well worthwhile.