What does 'Extinct in the Wild' mean?

Extinct in the wild is a phrase that is often used to describe a species of animals that are really extinct except for those that are in captivity like zoos or pets. Sometimes, captive animals are kept in sanctuaries which resemble their own home or surrounding in the wild, but they aren’t. Some of these animals include a certain kind of deer called the Pere David’s deer. It became extinct in 2008, but continues to exist in captive places.

Another animal that is extinct in the wild is the black soft-shell turtle. It became extinct many years ago and is now only able to be seen in zoos and sanctuaries. Another animal is the Hawaiian crow. There is a chance that this animal won’t be extinct anymore.

Extinct in the wild is a term given by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It categorizes animals that do not exist in nature by themselves, but only in conservatories or reserves. Basically, very few of animals with this label are alive, and none can be located in the wild. Animal species can make a comeback from this distinction if they are bred in captivity, released into the wild, and maintain viability over a long period of time by reproducing successfully.

However, reintroduction can be difficult or unsuccessful because certain traits and survival techniques were not passed down from parent to offspring. This means that oftentimes, reintroduced animals die off and revert back to 'extinct in the wild' status.