Managing genetic diversity in captive populations of animals

Abstract

The best opportunity for endangered species recovery exists when there are still populations throughout the original range, even if the populations ares mall and widely separated. As long as organisms persist in natural, though perhaps highly degraded or modified, habitats, recovery can be achieved by habitat improvement, reduction in causes of mortality, and other management actions that allow existing populations to expand. The second best opportunity for endangered species recovery exists when the species has been eliminated over portions of its range, but still survives in healthy populations in other portions of its range. In such cases, organisms can be trans-located to vacant habitats, after the original causes of decline and local extinction have been ameliorated.