Species reintroduction

A Przewalski's horse being released into the wild in Mongolia, as part of the Return of the Wild Horses project.

Species reintroduction is the deliberate release of a species into the wild, from captivity or other areas where the organism is capable of survival.[1] The goal of species reintroduction is to establish a healthy, genetically diverse, self-sustaining population to an area where it has been extirpated, or to augment an existing population.[2] Species that may be eligible for reintroduction are typically threatened or endangered in the wild. However, reintroduction of a species can also be for pest control; for example, wolves being reintroduced to a wild area to curb an overpopulation of deer. Because reintroduction may involve returning native species to localities where they had been extirpated, some prefer the term "reestablishment".[1]

Humans have been reintroducing species for food and pest control for thousands of years. However, the practice of reintroducing for conservation is much younger, starting in the 20th century.[3]

  1. ^ a b Campbell-Palmer, R.; Rosell, F. (2010). "Conservation of the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber: an olfactory perspective". Mammal Review. 40 (4): 293–312. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2010.00165.x.
  2. ^ Frankham, Richard; Ballou, Jon; Briscoe, David (2004-01-01). Introduction to Conservation Genetics. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. pp. 419–470. ISBN 978-0-521-70271-3. OCLC 965796229.
  3. ^ Seddon; Armstrong, DP; Maloney, RF (2007). "Developing the Science of Reintroduction Biology". Conservation Biology. 21 (2): 303–312. Bibcode:2007ConBi..21..303S. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00627.x. PMID 17391180. S2CID 10434140.