THE LIMITATION OF CONVENTIONAL BREEDING PROGRAMS AND THE NEED AND PROMISE OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION IN NONDOMESTIC SPECIES

The traditional concepts of captive propagation as a means to preserve biodiversity have limitations that are now well recognized. Too little space and a limited understanding of how to create optimal artificial environments prevent all but a few traditional breeding programs from meeting their ultimate goal of safeguarding targeted species. In order to achieve reasonable success we must be prepared to integrate new technologies in assisted reproduction with traditional propagation strategies and to view captive and noncaptive animals as a single resource. Methods such as cryogenics, artificial insemination and the transfer of in vivo- and in vitro-derived embryos have already been demonstrated for a limited number of endangered species. These techniques will likely be the foundation of broadly-based breeding programs for the conservation of many nondomestic animals in the future.