Captive breeding is a conservation tool that involves taking an animal into captivity (for example, at a zoo) and encouraging the animal to breed and increase in numbers. The eventual goal of such a program is to release the captives back into the wild, in order to prevent it from becoming extinct. In this essay, you will consider whether or not this is a wise conservation approach.
Discuss some of the benefits to captive breeding of endangered species. Include concrete examples of captive breeding programs that have demonstrated those benefits.
Discuss some of the drawbacks to captive breeding programs. Include concrete examples of captive breeding programs that have shown these drawbacks.
In your assessment, do you think that captive breeding programs should be a component of efforts to restore endangered species?
If you do not think captive breeding programs should be implemented, explain your reasoning clearly.
If you do think there is a place for captive breeding, under what circumstances ought it to be considered? Propose a checklist or specific guidelines you would recommend be used in determining whether or not to proceed with such a program.