Making the Right Move: Rhinos and the Science of Conservation

One of the many tools for conservation is translocation, or moving individual animals or plants to a new area. Animals can be moved to establish new populations, increase numbers of individuals or genetic health, or remove an ongoing threat. While translocations can bring many benefits, selection of appropriate individuals and the process of moving itself requires careful planning to ensure the translocated individuals thrive in their new habitat. This is especially true with endangered species like black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), so conservation partners carefully study how animals behave, their genetic health, and the family makeup of the source population prior to conducting translocations. About the presenter: Dr. Liz Kierepka is the Laboratory Head of the Genomics and Microbiology Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University. She uses genomic tools to study how animals react to changes in their environment. Dr. Kierepka is involved with multiple projects within mammals including evaluating genomics of island Peromyscus mice, rabies and urban adaptation in raccoons, population estimation of coyotes on the Outer Banks, and pedigree reconstruction in black rhinoceros.