Captive breeding involves breeding rare or endangered species in human-controlled settings and reintroduction involves releasing captive-bred individuals into the wild when natural habitat does not pose a significant threat to them.
Captive breeding has been used with success many times in the past, with one notable example being the Whooping Crane. North America's tallest bird species had nearly reached extinction by 1942, when only one small flock of about 14 Whoopers remained. The main cause of their decline was the conversion of their prairie nesting grounds to agricultural land. In 1967, a captive breeding program was initiated to save these majestic birds from extinction, and it was undeniably a success. By 1991, there were about 223 Whooping Cranes alive and numbers continue to increase! The Toronto Zoo contributes to such success stories with captive breeding programs for all kinds of animals.
Click below to find out more about the Toronto Zoo's captive breeding programs.
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Captive breeding involves breeding rare or endangered species in human-controlled settings and reintroduction involves releasing captive-bred individuals into the wild when natural habitat does not pose a significant threat to them.
In 1967, a captive breeding program was initiated to save these majestic birds from extinction, and it was undeniably a 
success. By 1991, there were about 223 Whooping Cranes alive and numbers continue to increase! The Toronto Zoo contributes to such success stories with captive breeding programs for all kinds of animals. 
Black-footed Ferret Conservation Recovery Program