Chapter 19 Endangered Species 481 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. A captive breeding program began in 1987 to create a population that could be reintroduced to the wild. Participants of the captive breeding program include the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center in northern Colorado, the National Zoo’s Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, and zoological institutions in Colorado Springs, Phoenix, Louisville, and Toronto. As of 2016, there were multiple populations in protected areas in several states, Canada, and Mexico. While the species is still endangered, the program may have saved them from extinction. One of the major challenges to their reintroduc- tion is locating a continuous habitat with a large enough prairie dog population to support the ferrets. Additional species, such as the California condor, giant panda, Pacifi c fi sher, and desert pupfi sh have benefi ted from such breeding pro- grams, Figure 19-20. Species Survival Plan Another method of helping wildlife at risk is a species survival plan (SSP). An SSP is an initiative by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to breed animals with the greatest amount of genetic diversity possible. Zoos breed animals through SSP partnerships and release the animals into the wild through captive breeding efforts. Some specimens may be kept in captivity as gene and seed banks. The concept of keeping animals in zoos and aquariums to artifi cially maintain a population in an SSP is known as ex situ conservation, Figure 19-21. James DeBoer/Shutterstock.com Figure 19-20. The California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), which is the largest land bird in North America, was once clearly on its way to extinction. There were only about 22 known to exist in 1987 when the last free-flying birds were taken into captivity for breeding. Although the bird is still identified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, there were nearly 300 flying free in 2018 and more than 100 in captivity. Figure 19-21. This snow leopard (Panthera uncia) cub is the result of SSP partnership between two North American zoos. The snow leopard is a vulnerable species and an SSP based in Canada is working to improve genetics for the species. Puffin’s Pictures/Shutterstock.com