breeding

But in a year or two, “probably the vast majority of these groups will be breeding and producing anywhere between six and 10 pups.”

And a robust captive breeding program in China helps ensure a growing panda population.

The African penguin recently became the focus of a significant South African court case that questioned the lack of meaningful fishing restrictions near breeding sites.

They said that could lead to the wildcats breeding with feral domestic cats, with such interbreeding – also known as hybridisation - undermining the whole idea of bringing back the species.

Their behaviour, bringing food back to the nest, was a positive sign that they were breeding.