Conservation breeding
Nicola Williscroft

Conservation breeding

Although animals are best conserved in their natural habitat, the increasing number of threats from human encroachment means that there is often not enough habitat left to support them. Consequently the breeding and care of animals within a zoo or aquarium environment may be one of the only ways these species will be saved by acting as an insurance policy. If a decision to bring an animal under captive management is left until extinction is imminent, it is often too late to save the species.