Captive Breeding and Reintroduction

In 1973, the Endangered Species Act was passed in the United States to protect species that are rapidly declining due to human influences. Captive breeding and release is one of the tools available to halt or reverse the decline of some species in the wild. Such programs may be carried out by zoos, aquaria, botanical gardens, or conservation organizations. In some cases the efforts have met with a substantial degree of success, while in others the results have been limited. It takes a relatively deep understanding of the biology and ecology of an endangered species to implement a successful program of captive breeding and release.