The Problems with Captive Breeding

• The species must retain its ability to survive in its original habitat and this becomes more unlikely the longer an individual is kept in captivity.
• Captive breeding often only begins when the wild population has fallen to very low levels. The genetic diversity of the captive population is therefore usually very low.
• Captive breeding is very expensive
• The problem may be made worse because zoos are in competition. A zoo that uses its visitor profit to maintain captive breeding populations can be harmed if a competitor decides to use its profits in a price war.