Ex situ Conserva/on:

Question 1

In situ (on site) conserva0on–

Answer 1

preserva/on of
natural communi/es and popula/ons of
endangered species in the wild.

Question 2

Ex situ (off site) conserva0on

Answer 2

preserva/on
of species under ar/ficial condi/ons such as
zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens.

Question 3

Combina/ons

Answer 3

Management	of	
endangered	species	in	small	
very	protected	popula/ons	
is	somewhat	of	a	
combina/on	of	ex	and	in	
situ…	

Can exchange individuals
from cap/ve and wild
popula/ons.

Question 4

Goals of Cap/ve Breeding

Answer 4

•  To provide stable popula/ons to act as
ambassadors in zoos, etc.
•  For conserva/on through reduc/on of take of
wild animals for various uses.
– For example, chinchilla fur farms
•  For release to the wild to increase popula/ons
– Ideally at a /me when the problems decreasing the
popula/on have been resolved.
•  Prevent ex/nc/on of species ex/rpated from
their en/re range

Question 5

Features of Success

Answer 5

•  High	Fecundity	
•  Short	Genera/on	Time	
•  Large	star/ng	
popula/on	size	
•  Good	natural	history	
informa/on	known	
•  Suitable	habitat	for	
release	
•  Unrelated	individuals	in	
star/ng	popula/on	
•  Good	husbandry	
•  Financial	support	
•  Pre-release	
condi/oning	
•  Good	management	of	
breeding		
•  Good	AI	techniques	and	
semen	banks

Question 6

Problems with Cap/ve Breeding

Answer 6

•  Disease	
•  Domes/ca/on	
•  Low	reproduc/on	
•  Inbreeding	(depression)	
•  Unnatural	age	structure	
•  Poor	survival	post	
reintroduc/on	
•  Lack	of	space	in	
facili/es	
•  Lack	of	suitable	habitat	
for	reintroduc/on	
•  Poor	husbandry	
•  Lack	of	Funding

Question 7

Zoo Species

Answer 7

•  Idea	that	afer	many	
years	in	cap/vity,	
animals	become	
adapted	to	the	cap/ve	
environment.	
•  Ar/ficial	selec/on	
selects	for	more	docile	
animals	that	have	lible	
fear	of	humans.		
•  May	not	be	able	to	
survive	in	wild.