Henry Doorly Zoo

Societal response to rapidly decreasing species has been insufficient. Species decline is directly correlated to human causes, whether in agriculture causing loss of habitat, or by the greenhouse effect causing global warming. When a habitat becomes deconstructed, the organisms, plants, and animals that once occupied the area have to reduce their carrying capacity, making extinction more probable. Human activities have drastically changed natural greenhouses over the past centuries. This includes burning fossil fuels such as coal or oil which increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increased the concentration of greenhouse gasses. These conditions make the atmosphere warmer and in return make environments that are inhospitable
Although this was put into act, the majority of species still are at a major risk of extinction. The last and only resort for these species to survive and for biodiversity to continue is in the hands of zoos and conservation programs with captive breeding and releasing. The Henry Doorly Zoo entails the Center for Conservation and Research which has several departments including molecular genetics, reproductive physiology, plant micro propogation, and conservation medicine. Together, this work has a global impact to help recover species. While the zoo has captively bred and released just a few species, that is not the entire focus of the zoo’s role. The zoo has an immense program for genetic biodiversity, which ensures that each species is up to the highest standard and fit to survive in a wild population. However, with large animals especially it would be a risk and highly complicated to attempt to release them. The zoo acts as an arc and safety net for decreasing species in the wild, with this insurance if something drastic happened to wild populations, hope for these species would be restored with the ability to release captive