Up-close shot of male Bornean orangutan with large flanges, at Paignton Zoo in Devon, UK

Conservation Breeding Programmes

Protecting Species for the Future

Across the world, wildlife is facing unprecedented pressure from habitat loss, climate change and human activity. For many species, the natural environments they depend on are shrinking faster than populations can recover.

Conservation breeding programmes help safeguard species facing these threats. By carefully managing populations in accredited zoos, scientists and conservationists can maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations that support long-term species survival.

At Paignton Zoo, conservation breeding is a central part of our work to protect wildlife and contribute to global conservation efforts.

A cassowary chick born at Paignton Zoo holding a blueberry in its beak looking up at his father
Working Together for Species Survival

Conservation breeding does not happen in isolation. It is a coordinated international effort involving zoos, conservation organisations and scientific institutions.

Paignton Zoo participates in programmes coordinated by:

These programmes carefully manage animal populations across multiple zoos to ensure genetic diversity and long-term sustainability.

In some cases, Paignton Zoo also manages international studbooks that track the lineage and genetics of species held across the global zoo network. This work helps guide breeding decisions that maintain healthy populations.

A baby Bornean orangutan born at Paignton Zoo as part of the international conservation breeding programme
Why Conservation Breeding Matters

In a world where natural habitats are disappearing, conservation breeding provides an essential safety net for threatened species.

For some animals, the pressures facing wild populations (including deforestation, hunting, and climate change) mean that protected populations under human care may become vital to their survival.

These carefully managed populations can:

  • Maintain healthy genetic diversity

  • Support scientific research

  • Strengthen conservation partnerships

  • Contribute to future reintroduction programmes where suitable habitat exists

This work ensures that species facing severe decline are not lost while conservation efforts continue to protect and restore their habitats in the wild.

Species Conservation in Action

Many of the species at Paignton Zoo are part of international conservation breeding programmes.

Examples include:

A pink pigeon at Paignton Zoo, which has supported global conservation efforts through expert breeding techniques
Pink Pigeon

Once reduced to fewer than ten birds in the wild, the pink pigeon has become a conservation success story through coordinated breeding and habitat restoration led by partners including the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.

Three Sulawesi crested black macaques at Paignton Zoo, where the international studbook for this species is held
Sulawesi Crested Macaque

Critically Endangered due to habitat loss and hunting, this intelligent primate is safeguarded by global conservation efforts, with Paignton Zoo maintaining the species' international studbook.

A young maned wolf pup follows behind its father at Paignton Zoo where it was born as part of an international breeding programme for conservation
Maned Wolf

The birth of two pups at Paignton Zoo contributed to the coordinated European Endangered Species Programme for the Vulnerable species.

A Global Effort

Conservation breeding programmes represent a powerful example of international cooperation.

By working together across zoos, research institutions and conservation organisations, it is possible to safeguard species that might otherwise disappear.

At Paignton Zoo, every birth, every breeding programme, and every scientific partnership contributes to this shared mission.

Conservation breeding programmes manage populations of threatened species in zoos to maintain genetic diversity and support long-term species survival.

Breeding programmes help protect species facing habitat loss and population decline while conservation work continues in the wild.

Species involved in conservation breeding at Paignton Zoo include pink pigeons, Sulawesi crested macaques, southern cassowaries, orangutans and Diana monkeys.

In some cases, animals bred in zoos can support reintroduction programmes where safe habitat exists.

Yes. Every visit helps fund animal care, conservation breeding programmes, and scientific research protecting threatened species.

Nature Trail at Paignton Zoo takes visitors through rare temperate rainforest habitat as part of Clennon Gorge wildlife reserve

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