In the United States, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums plays a significant role in furthering breeding and reintroduction programs.
Many species have current wild populations that are too small to stand a strong chance of long-term survival on their own, which means that responsibly breeding a carefully calculated number of these animals in captivity and reintroducing them into the wild is an alternative option that is more likely to be successful. Conservationists in India are finding success with this technique by selecting eight cheetahs from Namibia and breeding approximately 50 cheetahs to eventually release into the wild. In the United States, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums plays a significant role in furthering breeding and reintroduction programs.