Captive breeding

Captive breeding is the controlled reproduction of animals in human care. It can support conservation, research, agriculture, or the supply of animals for other purposes.

Studbook: A record of an animal population’s ancestry, identity, and breeding history. Studbooks help managers track relatedness and choose breeding pairs.
Ex situ conservation: The conservation of species outside their natural habitats, including in zoos, aquariums, and seed banks. Captive breeding is a common tool within conservation conducted outside the wild.
Genetic bottleneck: A sharp reduction in population size that leaves the surviving population with reduced genetic variation. Small founding groups can constrain the diversity of later captive generations.
In situ conservation: The conservation of species within their natural habitats. It protects populations where they live rather than reproducing them primarily in human care.
Captive-bred versus wild-born animals: A comparison of animals born under human care with animals born in natural populations. Differences in behavior and survival can affect the value of captive-bred releases.
Population viability analysis: A method for estimating the extinction risk of a population under specified conditions. It helps assess whether captive populations can persist and what management they need.
Species Survival Plan: A managed breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for selected species. It is a formal example of coordinated breeding among institutions.
Inbreeding depression: Reduced survival or reproduction caused by mating between genetically related individuals. Limited choice of mates can increase harmful effects of inbreeding.
Wildlife translocation: The deliberate movement of wild organisms from one location to another. Translocation can establish or bolster populations without producing animals in captivity.
Captive adaptation: Heritable or developmental changes that improve an organism’s performance in captive conditions. Adaptation to managed environments may reduce fitness after release.

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