Why captive breeding

Issues with Captive Breeding. The information given is for general information and should not be regarded as advice in any matter. ACS Distance Education disclaims all and any liability in relation to any act or omission which is done in reliance to the information provided in this web site. While every effort is made to ensure that we display correct information on our website, errors can occur. ACS Distance Education disclaims liability or responsibility for orders or complaints arising from such errors, including but not limited to : pricing, fees and course requirements.

ACS Distance Education reserves the right to decline orders arising from such errors. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Toggle navigation menu. Across the world many species of animal and plant are declining at a rapid rate.

The loss of habitat is considered the leading cause of species decline. As more animals are added to the endangered species list each year and habitat is being rapidly destroyed alternatives are needed to ensure these species do not become extinct in the wild management option to conserve these populations is to establish and maintain captive populations in ex-situ outside of their natural habitat. This is where zoos and fauna sanctuaries can become involved.

These establishments can play a large role in captive breeding programs as they have the facilities to house significant animals in a benign environment. Wildlife Biologists must understand how an endangered species uses its habitat and how they interact with each other in the wild. Sadly, the reintroduction of these captive populations into natural habitats is not always successful.

Due the small founder initial populations, many individuals in these populations become inbred and therefore their level of fitness is reduced. This means that they are less likely to survive in the wild. Over species and subspecies of animals are bred in captivity in the US alone. Captive breeding is generally undertaken when a species has reached critical population levels where risk of extinction is likely. These programs are usually undertaken with the following goals:. One of the problems with breeding threatened species in such a benign environment is that they may undergo evolutionary changes in ways that compromise their fitness in the wild.

View video transcript. Portrait Image. Tim Alamenciak. Follow timalamenciak. Stay up to date! Subscribe Now. Not at all Likely. Why do you feel this way? Next Submit. On Injustice and Resilience. Writer Jael Richardson discusses her debut novel, "Gutter Child. If time allows, have students also research examples of endangered bird species, such as the Spix's macaw, or reptile or amphibian species. Introduce the topic of captive breeding. Explain to students that many zoos, aquariums, and other institutions are involved in captive-breeding programs that try to breed endangered or threatened animals with the following purposes:.

Invite students to share what they know, if anything, about these programs. Tell students that captive breeding has saved some species from extinction, including black-footed ferrets and California condors. Revisit Step 1 of the activity. Ask: How has your opinion about the value of zoos changed, if at all?

Have small groups look up more endangered species on the World Wildlife website to find information on human-induced causes of animals becoming threatened or endangered.

Ask them to report back to the class. Captive-breeding programs breed endangered species in zoos and other facilities to build a healthy population of the animals.

By becoming familiar with the issues surrounding these programs, you can make judgments about whether or not they save species from extinction. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.

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