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Captive breeding by zoos and other organizations is an important part of conservation and species survival. It has helped us to prevent the extinction of the Przewalski's wild horse, the Arabian oryx, and the California condor and to reintroduce these animals into the wild. Captive-born animals can also be used to supplement wild populations that are endangered. Currently two species of cat are being bred in captivity for reintroduction to the wild: the European lynx and the Florida panther. There are also plans to supplement the population of Russia's Amur leopard, whose population numbers only about thirty-five animals.
The main obstacle in captive breeding is inbreeding. High levels of inbreeding produce physically abnormal or weakened young. Matings between closely related animals can be avoided if zoos and breeding organizations work together and share their animals. Zoo biologists keep close track of the family trees for each of their cats, and these data are used to develop a Species Survival Plan that ensures that genetic diversity is maximized. In 1985 there were only seventeen North Chinese leopards in North America, sixteen of whom were related. The following illustrates a program designed to breed and maintain this species through the cooperation of North American and European organizations.
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Moving animals from zoo to zoo for matings is hard on the animals and does not always result in a successful mating. Using new techniques of artificial reproduction such as invitro fertilization, biologists can harvest eggs and sperm from endangered species and share them with other zoos without moving the animals. Freezing the eggs and sperm preserves them for use years later. Invitro fertilization consists of surgically removing the eggs from the females and combining them with sperm to form embryos. These embryos can then be implanted in a female who will carry them to term and raise the litter. In this way, breeding can take place without both parents present.
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Through the captive breeding program, this North Chinese leopard was responsible for over forty descendants. The North Chinese leopard seen here was a key animal in the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound's breeding program for this wild cat species. Cheung-Chi was captive-born in Toronto, Canada, in 1976. During his breeding years, he sired fifteen cubs and to date has more than forty descendants. He produced his last cubs in 1988 and died at The EFBC in 1993.
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Scientists at the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound in Rosamond, California, are applying the techniques of invitro fertilization and embryo transfer to the problem of breeding endangered cats in captivity. The EFBC is a nonprofit breeding, research, and educational facility dedicated to the preservation of rare and endangered felines. The EFBC houses a collection of fifteen endangered or threatened cat species, including the North Chinese leopard and clouded leopard.
Don't buy fur coats or other products that are made from exotic species. Join and become active in an organization devoted to the preservation of wildlife and the habitats that are critical to the survival of big mammals such as cats. Listed below are a few of these organizations and their addresses.
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Produced by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. © Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Foundation This page was made possible by a grant from Friskies PetCare Company and the National Science Foundation. All photographic images contained within these Web pages ARE COPYRIGHTED and may not be reproduced or utilized in any manner without the express written consent of the owner. In Vitro chart © Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Foundation Homepage screen shot courtesy the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound © EFBC North Chinese Leopard photo courtesy the Exotic Feline Breeding Compound © EFBC Page design by Jim Angus |