For thousands of years, humans have kept animals as companions. From domesticated dogs in ancient societies to the cats and rabbits we see in homes today, this practice has shaped the relationship between people and wildlife. But could keeping wild animals as pets be the key to saving some species from extinction?
While the idea might sound promising, the reality is far more complex.
A Controversial Debate
An Australian study recently reignited this debate, exploring whether keeping native species as pets could help prevent their disappearance.
The study noted that while domestication might safeguard species from complete extinction, it often comes at the cost of their ability to survive independently in the wild.
The idea is enticing but fraught with complications. Foxes, in particular, offer fascinating insights—highlighting both the potential and pitfalls of domestication.
How Fur Farming Prevented a Fox’s Extinction
One of the clearest examples of how keeping animals in captivity can help conservation is the story of the silver fox. Historically, foxes were extensively hunted for their fur, driving some populations to the brink of extinction.
For the North American red fox (NARF), overhunting caused wild populations to dwindle, with fewer than 20 breeding pairs for some subspecies left today. Remarkably, it was fur farming—originally established for profit, not conservation—that prevented the overhunting contributing to their decline and preserves their genetics, should we lose these remaining animals.
When the critical status of the NARF was finally recognized, captive populations bred for fur provided a lifeline. However, this “accidental conservation” underscores a critical paradox: animals bred for captivity, whether for profit, research or as pets, may inadvertently save a species while simultaneously altering it.
Urban Foxes in the UK: A Hidden Dependence
In Britain, the dynamic between rural and urban fox populations highlights another dimension of the domestication debate. While rural fox numbers appear to be declining, urban fox populations are thriving, heavily supported by humans who feed them in gardens or leave scraps out for them to find.
This reliance on human-provided food creates a precarious balance. If fox feeding were to stop suddenly, urban populations might struggle, potentially leading to a population collapse. Furthermore, the differences between urban and rural foxes—shaped by diet, behaviour, and habitat—raise concerns about reducing genetic diversity. Could urban populations dilute the survival traits needed for wild foxes to thrive in rural settings?
The Risks of Domestication
While keeping wild animals as pets or supporting them in urban environments may seem beneficial, the risks often outweigh the rewards. Domesticated animals inevitably change over generations.
The famous Russian silver fox experiment demonstrated this clearly: foxes selectively bred for tameness developed traits such as less fearful and more docile behaviour—traits that make them less suited to survival in the wild. Foxes bred in captivity may lack critical survival skills, ancestral knowledge, wariness of predators, or even the ability to fend for themselves.
When these domesticated animals interbreed with wild populations, the genetic pool can be altered in ways that hinder rewilding or adaptation to natural environments. Similarly, urban foxes in Britain demonstrate how dependence on humans can shape survival behaviours, raising broader concerns about domestication’s long-term impact on resilience.
Lessons from Other Species
Globally, there are examples of how domestication has fallen short as a conservation tool. In the United States, more tigers live in captivity than in the wild, but these 'pet' tigers rarely contribute to the recovery of wild populations. Bred purely for entertainment and education, without survival skills, they lack the instincts and genetic diversity needed to thrive in their natural environment.
The Mexican red-knee tarantula however, was saved from the brink of extinction through captive breeding, driven by its popularity in the pet trade, which reduced the need for wild collection. The trade of these tarantulas, much like with the foxes, both contributed to their declines and helped preserve the species by preventing further loss in the wild.
A Double-Edged Sword
There is no denying that keeping animals in captivity can prevent extinction in dire circumstances. As seen with the North American red fox and the Mexican Red Knee Tarantula, captive populations can act as a buffer and genetic reservoir when wild populations are critically endangered.
But domestication alone cannot address the root causes of population decline, such as habitat loss, climate change, and competition with invasive species. Moreover, animals bred for tameness or aesthetics often lose the characteristics needed to survive and reproduce in the wild.
Summary
For foxes in the UK and beyond, a balanced approach is needed. Captive breeding programs should prioritize genetic diversity and survival traits over tameness or aesthetics. Efforts must also focus on protecting habitats and addressing human-wildlife conflict to ensure rural fox populations do not continue to decline.
Urban foxes present an additional challenge: while they currently thrive with human support, their long-term sustainability depends on maintaining a degree of independence. Public education on responsible wildlife interactions could help mitigate potential collapses in urban populations.
Saving species from extinction requires a comprehensive, science-driven approach that tackles the root causes of biodiversity loss. For foxes, this means embracing strategies that protect their habitats, respect their wild nature, and foster coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Sources:
Could keeping native species as pets save them from extinction? Here's why it's not that simple
There are five times more urban foxes in England than we thought
How the UK’s 2004 Ban on Fox Hunting Led to a ‘Catastrophic Decline’ in the Fox Population
Genetic rescue for rare red foxes? Research uncovers options to restore Lassen red fox population
Researchers examine potential population decline in the gray fox
Conservation without data: Mexican red knee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) conservation efforts
From The Famous Fox: An Interview With ‘Vlad’ The Russian Domesticated Fox
