How do experts help endangered species? Zoos, aquariums and organizations are working together to breed, study and reintroduce animals back into the wild.

Species Recovery

Species recovery programs prevent extinction and try to recover the endangered species. They that populations, which have reached a critically low level in the number of specimens in existence, are prevented from sliding into extinction as a result of the low number of individuals remaining.   When a species becomes threatened with extinction, the recovery programs are developed to assist and enhance reproductive capabilities of the species to stabilize or increase the numbers in existence.   These programs can involve captive breeding efforts or husbandry studies, assisted reproduction efforts or field research into behavior, reproduction, biology or ecology.  Species Recovery Programs usually involve multiple disciplinary approaches.   These approaches are applied, through joint cooperative efforts between many institutions, and aimed at prevention of the extinction of a species, via cooperative efforts to increase numbers and retain genetic diversity.

Species Survival Plan

The species survival plan, or SSP was developed in 1981 by the AZA foundation. Many zoos and aquariums are part of the plan and each animal entered in the program is analyzed and managed in a database. This plan insures that the animals in captivity will be genetically diverse. Currently, 119 species are administered in the SSPs, whose membership includes 185 zoos and aquariums.

Reintroduction Projects

After successfully breeding a group of animals, the next step is to reintroduce them into the wild. Researchers must train the animals to survive in the wild and must ensure that animals have a niche in the wild. To track the animals in the wild, experts must also use tracking devices, tags, and other ways to monitor the progress they have made with the animals.

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