ZOO OBJECTIVES.
Before highlighting and explaining the significance behind the conservation methods implemented by these institutions; a definition of the facilities that manage these programs are required. Botanical gardens are defined as institutions for holding documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display and education (BCGI,2010). While a zoo may be defined as a collection based institution of captive wild animals that are displayed to the public making it easier for observation than in nature (IUDZG/CBSG[IUCN/SCC] 1993, Tribe & Booth 2003).
The advent of zoos initially stood on two principles, education and public enjoyment but the rise in popularity of Ecology in the 1970s and an environmentally conscious generation, it yielded an opportunity to elevate conservation as a priority and consequently zoos evolving their ethos. By the 1980s, conservation have become the fundamental aim by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) (Zimmerman, et al., 2007). More specifically, the essential objective is to support the conservation of species, natural habitats and ecosystems through strategies that do not substitute one another but where these methods simple compliment each other to achieve optimum results. These programs of support for conservation are dedicated to protecting endangered species, including both ex situ(in captivity) programs and in situ(in the wild) methods. Moreover, educational concepts are provided within these facilities highlighting the natural significance of biodiversity and how it can be protected through conservation. Each concept will be defined in the subsequent paragraphs with particular case examples to establish the crucial role of zoos and botanical gardens in conservation of a species.
EX SITU CONSERVATION.
Ex situ conservation projects are based in environments outside of the species' normal habitat (i.