safari vs captive breeding

Have students use the American Zoo and Aquarium Association's Web site or another resource to find one animal that has been successfully bred in captivity and one animal for which captive breeding has not been successful. Ask them to compare and contrast the two animals' basic needs and breeding programs and to try to assess why one animal has been successfully bred in captivity while the other has not. They can extend the investigation to see whether the animal that has been successfully bred in captivity has also been successfully reintroduced into its natural habitat.


Have students research and report on the genetic and behavioral difficulties that zoos often face when trying to breed animals in captivity. For example, why do zoos often transport their animals to other zoos that are hundreds or even thousands of miles away in order to breed? Why might two healthy animals of the opposite sex fail to reproduce?