Captive breeding is the process of
breeding animals in controlled environments within well-defined settings, such as wildlife reserves,
zoos and other commercial and noncommercial
conservation facilities. Sometimes the process includes the release of individual
organisms to the wild, when there is sufficient natural
habitat to support new individuals or when the threat to the
species in the wild is lessened. Captive breeding programs facilitate
biodiversity and may save species from
extinction. Release programs have the potential for diluting
genetic diversity and
fitness.