Captive Breeding as a form of Species Conservation.
As a wilderness and wild animal lover, I am very concerned about the rising percentages of endangered species. Statistics from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature show a rise in the number of endangered species (Species). More than 15,000 plants and animals are said to face extinction (Endangered). Captive Breeding and reintroduction into the species natural habitat has been a successful tool in combating the endangered species problem and should continue to play a major role in conservation. That being said, critics have several reasons why captive breeding is not a practical method of endangered species conservation (Primack). This is fair enough. However, captive breeding and reintroduction as a form of species conservation has many benefits.
Some species are extinct in the wild, but seem to thrive in zoos. Przewalski's horse, Arabian Oryx, and Pere Devid's deer are a few of these species.
English: FWS staff with two red wolf pups bred in ...
Siberian Tiger Français : Tigre de sibérie Itali...
English: Shot at the Minnesota Zoo. A critically e...This is because not only will they have a nutritional diet that will ensure they thrive, but they are protected from human interference. Two examples of human interference are clear-cutting for the purpose of manufacturing paper, and illegal hunting. Originally the zoo was designed to entertain the public; however, it has evolved into a means of species preservation. The educational value of a zoo is potentially enormous. Seeing the animals can encourage people to develop empathy for them, and will make them aware of what forces threaten them in the wild. The conservation programs at zoos, the articles that are written about these conservation programs and zoo field projects all direct the public's attention to the endangered species and their habitats. Zoos also keep a majority of animal-
loving tourists from tromping into the wild, therefore preserving the natural habitats and protecting the wild animals from stressful...