Conserving and safeguarding the entire ecosystem ensures the preservation of biodiversity at all levels, illustrating the principle of "saving the entire forest to protect the tiger." This approach is known as in situ (on-site) conservation. However, in certain cases where a particular animal or plant species is at risk of extinction and requires immediate intervention, ex situ (off-site) conservation becomes the preferred method. In situ conservation involves protecting the natural habitat and the various organisms that inhabit it, ensuring the continuity of their ecological processes. By preserving the ecosystem as a whole, we indirectly safeguard the survival of individual species, such as the tiger in the forest example. On the other hand, ex situ conservation focuses on taking endangered or threatened species out of their natural environment and placing them in specialised facilities, such as botanical gardens, zoos, or seed banks. This approach is essential when the species faces imminent extinction and requires immediate and dedicated efforts for its survival. These off-site facilities provide a controlled environment where proper care and breeding programs can be implemented to enhance the species' chances of survival and eventual reintroduction into the wild if possible.
What facilities are commonly used for ex situ conservation?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Botanical gardens, zoos, and seed banks
The passage states that ex situ conservation takes endangered or threatened species out of their natural environment and places them “in specialised facilities, such as botanical gardens, zoos, or seed banks”, where they get proper care and breeding programmes.
Option (1) National parks and wildlife sanctuaries — Incorrect. National parks and wildlife sanctuaries protect species in their own habitat. They are in situ conservation.
Option (2) Botanical gardens, zoos, and seed banks — Correct. Botanical gardens, zoos and seed banks keep plants, animals and seeds outside their natural habitat under special care. These are ex situ facilities.
Option (3) Forest reserves and natural habitats — Incorrect. Forest reserves and natural habitats protect species where they live, which is in situ conservation.
Option (4) Marine protected areas — Incorrect. Marine protected areas protect sea life in its natural surroundings, so they are also in situ, not ex situ.