Why we're 'interviewing' captive birds to find the best to release into the wild

• Fewer than 50 adult Bali mynas remain in their native dry forest and savanna on the island.
• We found birds took longer to touch familiar food when an item they had never seen before was present.
• While individual birds behaved differently from one another, they reacted consistently to several types of unfamiliar food and objects.
• It was the bolder birds who were quicker to solve each new problem-solving task, suggesting they may be more adaptable once released too.

How this benefits conservation

• Returning species to environments they once occupied can help counteract these losses.
• But such reintroductions often fail, as many animals raised in captivity struggle to find food, adapt to changing habitats, recognise predators and breed.
• In fact, 30% of reintroductions have ran into problems due to the behaviour of the animals themselves.
• Work with juvenile black-tailed prairie dogs showed that using experienced adults in predator training enhanced their long-term survival post-release.

Limits to what animals can adapt to

• Rapid changes in how land is used, from forest to farmland or suburban neighbourhoods for instance, are eclipsing the growth of natural habitats.
• Understanding how different animals respond to pressures like urbanisation and applying this to conservation is important.
• But there are limits to what even the most adaptable animals can overcome, and certain pressures diminish advantageous traits like being a quick learner.