Zoo breeding is no help

Edinburgh Zoo has unveiled its new jaguar, claiming to be part of a captive breeding programme (your report, 14 December). However, the greatest threats facing this species in the wild are deforestation, development, habitat fragmentation and hunting.

One must question how the zoo's captive breeding programme is ever going to help conserve these wild jaguar populations. The reality is that the vast majority of animals bred in this way are shipped off to other zoos, not returned to the wild.

Captive breeding has become an easily marketable concept and fashionable justification for the zoo industry's continued existence.

If Edinburgh Zoo really wants to help conserve wild jaguars, it should be supporting the protection of them in their natural habitats.

ROSS MINETT

Director, Advocates for Animals

Queensferry Street

Edinburgh