Biodiversity & Conservation
GS Paper: GS Paper III | Subject: Environment
Prelims
(Key facts, data, schemes, laws, organizations — MCQ-ready points)
Captive-Breeding Saves Parakeets from Extinction (Indian Express, 04-06-2026)
- Feature: two parakeet species are "doing the heavy lifting" against extinction via captive-breeding ("super-breeder") programmes that release birds back into the wild
- Illustrates ex-situ conservation (captive breeding) as a recovery tool for critically endangered birds, paired with habitat protection
Mains
(Analysis, dimensions, significance, critique, policy angles — for 10/15 mark answers)
Ex-situ Conservation — Promise & Limits (Indian Express, 04-06-2026)
- Captive breeding works as a bridge, not a cure: a few prolific breeders can rebuild a population, but long-term survival needs habitat restoration + threat removal (in-situ), else released birds have nowhere safe to live
- Genetic-diversity risk: Small founder populations → inbreeding; programmes must manage studbooks and avoid behavioural de-skilling of captive-raised animals
- India parallels: Relevant to India's recovery programmes — Great Indian Bustard (Sam, Rajasthan), gharial, vulture (Jatayu) breeding centres, cheetah translocation — same ex-situ + in-situ balance
- UPSC angle: In-situ vs ex-situ conservation, captive breeding, IUCN Red List categories, species recovery programmes