HUSBANDRY · CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
AE-SOP-0410 — Rewilding Release Readiness
To verify that both captive-bred stock and destination habitat are ready before any release to the wild. The procedure guarantees that no cohort is released into an unrestored or unprotected habitat, that broodstock genetic diversity meets the release threshold, and that animals are conditioned for wild forage and predator response — so that rewilding strengthens wild populations rather than seeding failure.
ActiveHusbandryRev C
1. Purpose
To verify that both captive-bred stock and destination habitat are ready before any release to the wild. The procedure guarantees that no cohort is released into an unrestored or unprotected habitat, that broodstock genetic diversity meets the release threshold, and that animals are conditioned for wild forage and predator response — so that rewilding strengthens wild populations rather than seeding failure.
2. Scope
All rewilding releases of captive-bred stock.
- In scope: Habitat readiness verification, genetic-diversity checks, behavioural conditioning, health screening, tagging, and post-release monitoring.
- Out of scope: Initial quarantine of accessions, which follows AE-SOP-0101; registry recording of released cohorts, which follows AE-SOP-0220.
3. Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Release Cohort | The group of conditioned, health-screened, tagged animals approved for a single release event. |
| Historic Range | The documented native range within which a release destination must fall. |
| Behavioural Conditioning | Training stock for wild forage and predator response before transfer. |
| Genetic-Diversity Threshold | The minimum broodstock diversity required before a cohort may be released. |
4. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Restoration & Rewilding (Owner) | Owns the readiness process; signs the dual habitat-and-stock release authorisation. |
| Breeding Program Lead | Verifies genetic diversity and provides health-screened, conditioned cohorts. |
| Habitat Survey Team | Confirms destination habitat is restored, protected, and within historic range. |
| NEREID | Tracks post-release survival telemetry and feeds it back into the breeding program. |
5. Release Readiness Criteria
| Readiness Factor | Threshold | Verified By | Block on Fail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genetic diversity | Above release threshold | Breeding Lead | Hold cohort |
| Habitat restoration | Restored + protected, in range | Survey Team | No release |
| Forage / predator conditioning | Cohort conditioned | Breeding Lead | Extend conditioning |
| Health & quarantine status | Cleared, never a quarantine batch | Husbandry Lead | No release |
Note. All four factors must pass; a quarantine-status batch is never released, and a cohort is held if genetic diversity falls below the release threshold.
6. Materials & Equipment
- Verified destination-habitat survey within historic range
- Broodstock genetic-diversity panel result
- Conditioning facility for forage and predator-response training
- Health-screen and clearance records for the cohort
- Release tags and post-release telemetry array
- Dual habitat-and-stock release authorisation form
7. Procedure
7.1 Habitat Readiness
- Confirm destination habitat is restored, protected, and within historic range.
- Verify ongoing protection sufficient to sustain the cohort.
- Block the release if any habitat factor fails.
7.2 Stock Readiness
- Verify broodstock genetic diversity meets the release threshold.
- Condition stock for wild forage and predator response before transfer.
- Health-screen and tag the release cohort; never release a quarantine batch.
7.3 Release & Monitor
- Sign the dual habitat-and-stock release authorisation.
- Release the conditioned, tagged cohort to the destination.
- Monitor post-release survival and feed it back into the breeding program.
8. Records
- Dual release authorisation with habitat and stock sign-off (retained 7 years)
- Destination-habitat survey record
- Genetic-diversity panel result
- Conditioning and health-clearance records
- Post-release survival telemetry
9. References
- AE-SOP-0101 — Specimen Accession & Quarantine
- AE-SOP-0220 — Universal Marine Registry Curation
- AE-MET-025 — Rewilding Releases
- AE-MET-026 — Broodstock Genetic Diversity
10. Revision History
| Rev | Date | Author | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2088-04-30 | Restoration & Rewilding | Initial issue; habitat and stock readiness checks established. |
| B | 2089-08-19 | Restoration & Rewilding | Added behavioural conditioning and genetic-diversity threshold. |
| C | 2090-03-06 | Restoration & Rewilding | Formalised dual authorisation and post-release survival feedback loop. |