Maintaining self-sustaining populations of zoo and aquarium collections can be challenged when natural reproduction fails within mixed-sex populations; however, reproductive success can sometimes be restored with the application of reproductive technologies. Among a population of three female and one male Zebra Sharks (Stegostoma tigrinum), production of young failed despite constant male presence with two of the females.
Reproduction of animals in human care sometimes requires more than simple cohabitation of females and males as the physiological and behavioral processes involved can be complex (Ottinger and Mench, 1989). When natural reproduction fails, assisted techniques can be employed to overcome barriers.