Reintroduction is the deliberate release of animals from captivity into the wild. It usually involves species that are endangered or extinct in the wild. In some cases, reintroduction involves a species that had been wiped out in a particular ecosystem, but survived elsewhere in the wild.
Beginning in the 1980s, biologists have learned that many mammals and birds need to learn a lot in order to survive in the wild. Thus, reintroduction programs have to be planned carefully, ensuring that the animals have the necessary survival skills. It is also necessary to study the animals after the reintroduction. The goals of this study include learning whether the animals are surviving and breeding, and what effects the reintroduction is having on the ecosystem, and to learn how to improve the process.
Ongoing or successful reintroduction programs:
