Better Dead Than Captive Bred?

A central issue in wildlife conservation is not “when” but “whether” to bring individuals of an endangered species into captivity. This becomes an especially weighty issue if doing so would prevent ultimate extinction. Despite recent experiences with taxa that nearly died out before last minute rescues could be put in place, there are those – in fact, a great many – who cannot condone the idea of wild animals spending even a minute in a captive situation, even though passionately concerned about their survival. In extreme form, this view holds that, for those whose future in the wild is certainly doomed, it is better not to have been born at all than to survive only in the undignified and freedom-denying confines of captivity. Better to be dead than captive bred!