The Extinction of the Wild

Only 100 Florida panthers exist in the wild today. The beloved state mascot is facing trouble from modern developments that encroach the 200 mile radius each male panther needs to itself to feel at ease. So far this year, more than eight panthers have been hit and killed by cars. Now a new proposed housing development in Collier County threatens to corner the panther even more. Many wildlife activists are hoping that President Obama will add the Florida panther to the endangered species list so they can receive more critical protection. In the meantime, zoo animals are being bred around the country to ensure that the species proliferate.

The San Diego Zoo has one of the most active species-preservation programs in the nation. Their Center for Conservation and Research raises endangered species, such as California condors, pandas, tigers and African black rhinos. Some of these species are bred in captivity and later released into the wild, while others proliferate in the zoo for their entire adult lives. To help preserve rare animals, the San Diego Wild Animal Park has a cryopreservation facility to freeze sperm and eggs of rare animals. In 2009, the San Diego Zoological Society was proud to announce the birth of a giant panda cub, a western lowland gorilla and two endangered Grand Cayman blue iguanas.

Over the years, the Oregon Zoo has held many fundraisers for endangered animals abroad and has participated in many zoo animals breeding programs. In recent years, they’ve successfully bred western pond turtles, pygmy rabbits, condors and Chinook salmon. The zoo houses a number of endangered or threatened species, including the Rodrigues flying fox, ocelot, Babirusa pig, Malayan sun bear, mandrill, black rhinoceros, Humboldt penguin, African slender-nosed crocodile, barn owl, Edward’s lorikeet, black howler monkey, emerald tree boa and many more.

Generally, animal rights groups do not support zoo animals breeding programs because they believe that it is immoral to tamper with wild animal species in any way — be it animal testing, meat and dairy production, domestication or wearing fur fashions. Wildlife biologists, on the other hand, support captive-bred animals, but also feel that their long-term survival depends upon a stabilization of the animals’ natural habitat. They also warn about the danger of inbreeding too close in blood lines, breeding for non-aggressive traits (that may be preferable for a zoo but not for the wild) and the possibility of introducing contamination into wild populations.

Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed panic attacks help as well as tips on the various medications for panic disorder available at www.anxietydisordercure.com.

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