The Captive Breeding Myth

One of the most common assertions made by breeders of exotic animals is that captive breeding is necessary to keep the species from becoming endangered. In reality, breeding animals in captivity is not going to save species in the wild because a vast majority of captive breeding is done outside of official conservation plans. Additionally, captive breeding fails to address the leading causes of the decline of populations of endangered species in the wild —habitat loss, pollution, and the pet trade in exotic animals.

In reality, the breeding of exotic animals in captivity can actually have a negative impact on the species in the wild. Historically, it has been illustrated that the increased popularity of exotic animals as pets, whether wild-caught or captive-bred, often leads to a subsequent increase in the illegal trafficking of their wild counterparts within the U.S. and abroad.

Most exotic animals outside of official conservation programs are bred for purely commercial or entertainment purposes.

The fact that the many breeders are interested in breeding and maintaining mutations (for example, the color of white tigers or the size of pot-bellied pigs) which generally fetch higher prices among exotic animal fanciers indicates that maintaining the natural integrity of the species is not paramount in their breeding endeavors. The characteristics selected have nothing to do with the survival needs of the species in the wild and everything to do with personal whim and market demand.

Specifically regarding the question, "Won't the "captive" population of xxxx species become extinct and the only place you would be able to see an xxxx is in a large zoo?", people need to understand the following:

Any animal held captive within someone’s home, in a garage, backyard, or roadside zoo is only "seeing" a shadow of the species. There is no educational value in seeing an animal species whose instincts have been stifled and who is being forced to behave unnaturally and likely neurotically. If it is not possible for one to appreciate the species in its natural habitat, video documentaries are a far better way for people to learn about the species, non-invasively. What benefit is there for a child to see a big cat wearing a leash, or a toothless monkey dressed in diapers and clothes? This does not engender respect for the species, but rather has the opposite effect of teaching a child that animals are on this planet for humans to do with as they please.