The Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii) is a vulnerable species found in arid and semi-desert regions of the Middle East and Central Asia. In recent decades, Houbara populations have significantly declined due to overhunting, habitat loss, and c...
The strong decline of freshwater fish species in Europe implies that further ex-situ conservation plans should be implemented in the near future. The present study reflects our experience with the Pyrenean sculpin (Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Meste...
Anderson’s crocodile newt (Echinotriton andersoni) is distributed in the Central Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, but environmental degradation and illegal collection over the last several decades have devastated the local populations. It has theref...
Captive breeding is important for ex-situ conservation and the future reintroduction of bovids that become extinct in the wild. The age structure, development, and viability of captive-bred bantengs (Bos javanicus) are important to sustain the long-t...
This review summarizes studies on Przewalski’s horse since its extinction in the wild in the 1960s, with a focus on the reintroduction projects in Mongolia and China, with current population status. Historical and present distribution, populati...
The application of genetic data to conservation management programs can be hindered by the mismatch in timelines for management decisions and the acquisition of genetic data, particularly genomic sequence data that may require outsourcing. While appl...
Capercaillie behavior, both in the wild and in captivity, is poorly known due to this species’ secretive way of life. Female-male and female–female social organization and interactions are especially poorly documented. The research was co...
Seahorses are valuable species for their use in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as for the aquarium trade as ornamentals and curiosities. To balance market demand and reduce pressure on wild populations, many countries have undertaken commercia...
Introduction: Populations of freshwater fish species of the Iberian Peninsula have been declining since the mid-20th century, and several types of actions (from in situ to ex situ actions) have been applied over the past decades. However, limited kno...
Background: To conserve wild populations and ensure a sustainable supply of musk, China initiated the captive breeding of forest musk deer. The temporal dynamics of gut antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) profiles in captive forest musk deer along a bre...
A significant part of freshwater mussel populations has strongly declined and many species are severely threatened nowadays. Captive breeding programs often form a central part of conservation strategies. As the life cycles of many mussel species inc...
To ensure that captive breeding and other associated programs are more robust and sustainable, it is of utmost importance to ensure optimum welfare. Although it is well known that standard welfare is crucial for successful captive breeding, there is...
In the last few decades, the cuttlefish market has grown to approximately 14% of the world’s fisheries, and operators have begun to express concerns about the decline of this resource. In this context, the production of cuttlefish through aquac...
This study analyzes 324 captive giant panda breeding events (1998–2023) to unravel maternal and gestational drivers of cub survival and health—the largest dataset of its kind to date. Key variables included gestational duration, maternal...
We investigated the genetic diversity of the population of captive forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Barkam Musk Deer Breeding Centre using twelve microsatellite markers, and then analyzed the change in genetic structure of successive generat...
Historically, there has been little success with the captive breeding of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) for both commercial and conservative purposes. This study, conducted at Golden Ranch in Gheens, LA, between 2016 and 2022, utili...
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), a North American mustelid species, was once found abundantly throughout the Midwest until the extreme decline in prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.), the black-footed ferret’s primary food source, brought the...
Captive propagation of Pacific salmon is routine, but few captive breeding programs have been conducted to successfully re-establish extirpated wild populations. A captive breeding program for endangered Sakinaw Lake sockeye salmon was established f...
The Southern Stuttering Frog, Mixophyes australis, is a newly described threatened species endemic to Australia that is suffering severe and ongoing declines. The species is currently presumed extinct from the southern two thirds of its range, primar...
Given the interest in the conservation of the Mesoamerican scarlet macaw (Ara macao cyanoptera), the Xcaret Park formed an initial reproductive population about 30 years ago, which has progressively grown to a considerable population in captivity. In...
The genus Alytes consists of six primitive terrestrial-breeding species (five of them endangered or present in restricted distributions) with unique male parental care. Alytes obstetricans was used as a model for the development of assisted reproduct...
Ovoviviparity and male pregnancy represent distinctive reproductive strategies in seahorses. However, the detailed process of gonadal development in seahorses, particularly in the pot-bellied seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis), remains largely unknow...
A key aspect in the conservation of endangered populations is understanding patterns of genetic variation and structure, which can provide managers with critical information to support evidence-based status assessments and management strategies. This...
In recent decades, studies on animal coloration have expanded significantly, from understanding color production and perception mechanisms to exploring the selective pressures driving these patterns. Conservation biology has begun leveraging these st...
Natural wildlife habitats are regularly subjected to anthropogenic pressures for different purposes, which are heading the biodiversity towards drastic decline. Several endangered wild species are raised in captivity with the aim of re-introduction....
White-barred goby Amblygobius phalaena is a highly valued marine ornamental fish, but its captive reproduction and early life history are poorly understood. In this study, the captive reproductive behavior, early development, and optimal temperature...
Zoo and wildlife hospital networks are set to become a vital component of Australia’s contemporary efforts to conserve the iconic and imperiled koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Managed breeding programs held across zoo-based networks typically f...
Pseudochondrostoma willkommii, called Guadiana nase in the Iberian Peninsula, is an endemic cyprinid that lives in the middle stretches of rivers and is also common in still water. According to the literature, spawning occurs in April, after upstream...
The Brazilian Merganser (Mergus octosetaceus) is one of the rarest birds in South America, and it is a critically endangered Anatidae species with an estimated population of less than 250 adult individuals in the Brazilian Cerrado. A captive populati...
Ex situ conservation programs maintain threatened mammal populations and support conservation breeding and reintroduction, but success also depends on physiological function, behavioral competence, welfare, and reproductive performance. This critical...
The tiger (Panthera tigris) is an apex predator and plays a fundamental role in sustaining biodiversity through its native range in Asia. By controlling populations of large herbivores and mesopredators, tigers help maintain the structural integrity...
Non-contact behavioral monitoring is important for low-disturbance husbandry of captive forest musk deer, but variable illumination, shadows, partial occlusion, and low target-background contrast can reduce recognition reliability. This study develop...
The highly endangered crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) continues to be impacted by disease, especially in captive breeding populations. In this paper, based on high-throughput sequencing, we investigated parasitic infections in captive and...
European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) populations have declined precipitously over the last 70 years. Its protection cannot be ensured solely by protecting its habitat; it is also necessary to protect the animals ex situ. In our study, wit...
The Yellow-spotted Bell Frog, Ranoidea castanea is a critically endangered species, native to the tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. It was rediscovered in 2009, after it had seemingly disappeared thirty years earlier. Upon rediscovery, a cons...
Accurate monitoring of reproductive activity is necessary for success of captive breeding and recovery of endangered species. Using ultrasonography, we aimed to describe the stages of follicle development of the endangered Louisiana pinesnake (Pituop...
The Alaotran gentle lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis) is one of the world’s most endangered primates and shows low success rates in captive breeding programmes. This study tested biologically relevant scent enrichment using two synthesised mixtures...
Animals in human care are affected by stressors that can ultimately reduce fitness. When reproduction is affected, endangered species conservation programs can be severely compromised. Thus, understanding factors related to stress and reproduction, a...
Zoos worldwide play an important role in both in situ and ex situ conservation via efforts such as providing breeding programmes and reintroductions into the wild. Zoo populations are crucial as a buffer against extinction. However, a mismatch betwee...
In cheetahs, age at first parturition correlates negatively with reproductive lifespan (asymmetric reproductive aging); therefore, breeding cheetahs at a young age is essential to maximize reproductive performance in this species. However, younger fe...
The One Plan Approach advocates for a hybrid species management framework, wherein captive-bred populations are considered metapopulations nested within a broader network of zoos and wild populations Additionally, the Opportunities to Thrive framewor...
Understanding embryonic development is fundamental to improving captive breeding protocols and supporting conservation strategies for threatened fish species. Prochilodus vimboides is a Neotropical freshwater fish for which detailed information on ea...
Julia Creek dunnarts are an endangered species of carnivorous marsupials and the focus of multiple conservation strategies involving significant resources such as captive breeding programs. Despite the relevance for conservation, no study to date has...
The Amargosa vole is a highly endangered rodent endemic to a small stretch of the Amargosa River basin in Inyo County, California. It specializes on a single, nutritionally marginal food source in nature. As part of a conservation effort to preserve...
The Arabian sand gazelle (Gazella marica) is a native and highly adaptable species of the Arabian Peninsula. Due to drastic population declines, the species is listed as globally vulnerable. Very little is known about the behavioral ecology of this s...
The bacterial community in water from the Houston-toad captive assurance colony held at the Houston Zoo, TX, was used for comparison to the native pond bacterial composition by Ilumina-based 16S rRNA V3 amplicon sequencing. We analyzed composite sedi...
Compassionate conservation advocates for minimizing individual suffering in conservation practice and adheres to the principle “individuals matter”—intrinsically, in and of themselves. Our objective is to determine the extent to whi...
Kenya has a long history of both legal and illegal wildlife trade, functioning as a source, consumer, and transit hub within global wildlife markets. Yet, despite its increasing prominence, the scale and composition of Kenya’s captive-bred and...
Silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus, family Stromateidae) is a highly valuable marine fish species with significant commercial demand; however, its aquaculture remains undeveloped due to limited knowledge of captive breeding and seed production. To our...
Bahaba taipingensis (Chinese bahaba) is a critically endangered fish endemic to China’s coastal waters, valued for both ecological and economic reasons and known as the “panda of the sea”. Captive breeding and stock enhancement are...
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