Scimitar-horned oryx, now considered extinct in the wild, persists in large numbers in captivity. In this first molecular genetic study on this species, we explore the patterns of genetic diversity across European, North American, and a few other captive groups using microsatellite markers and mitochondrial control region sequencing. Strong population structure was not evident from microsatellite data but we discovered deep divergence within the mitochondrial DNA haplotypes from a network analysis where three disconnected networks were obtained, with estimated divergence times of c. 2.1-2.7 million years. Mismatch distribution analyses suggest population expansions c. 1.2 and 0.5 million years ago. We discuss our findings in the context of historical climatic changes in North Africa and use information obtained on current patterns of genetic diversity within captive groups to make recommendations for future captive management and reintroduction strategies.

The reintroduction of the scimitar-horned oryx to Chad is a multi-disciplinary endeavour, planned and implemented over the past decade, utilizing a wide range of conservation science applications to maximise the chances of long-term population sustainability. The principle of incorporating genetic diversity information into founder selection for species reintroductions is widely recognized; however, in practice, a full assessment of available ex-situ genetic variation is rarely attempted prior to identifying individuals for release.In this study we present the results of over ten years of research analyzing and interpreting the genetic diversity present in the key source populations for the Chad scimitarhorned oryx reintroduction. Three empirical genetic datasets (mitochondrial DNA sequence, nuclear DNA microsatellite and SNP markers) comprising over 500 individuals sampled from public and private institutions were analysed, accompanied by simulation studies to address applied questions relating to management of the reintroduction.The results strongly demonstrate the importance of conservation genetic analysis in ensuring that founders represent the greatest breadth of evolutionary diversity available. The inclusion of both intensively and lightly managed collections allowed us to bridge the gap between studbook and group managed populations, enabling the inclusion of individuals from populations that lack historic data on their origins, but which may hold unique diversity of significant conservation value. Importantly, however, our study also reveals the potential risks of applying standard population genetic approaches to multiple captive populations, for which small founder sizes are likely to strongly bias results, with potentially serious consequences for the genetic management of conservation breeding programmes.

The world faces a biodiversity crisis and efforts are needed to protect species from extinction. Reintroductions using source populations from zoos and aquariums offer a technique to re‐establish species in the wild following extinction or population depletion beyond sustainable limits. Ex situ populations are a potential source for reintroduction projects but many zoos and aquariums do not necessarily maintain globally rare species. We aimed to quantify the contribution zoos and aquariums make to reintroductions, and evaluate how European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) members have contributed to reintroduction projects. Data on the contribution zoos and aquariums make to reintroductions were extracted from the Global Re‐introduction Perspectives publications, and the EAZA membership was surveyed on historical reintroduction projects. This information was augmented with data from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS). The majority of species in EAZA‐member institutions were not globally threatened but more than half of the 156 reintroduced species and 260 projects supported by EAZA members concerned species that were threatened (i.e. Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable), Near Threatened or Extinct in the Wild. Most species that were not of global conservation concern were locally rare. EAZA members provided animals for release, but their greatest contributions to reintroduction projects were funds, staff, expertise and equipment, and project coordination. Zoos and aquariums have an important role to play in reintroductions especially as emphasis shifts away from the in situ–ex situ dichotomy and towards integrated conservation management of species.