Ex-situ conservation involves maintenance and breeding of endangered plants and animal species under partially or wholly controlled conditions in zoos, gardens, nurseries and laboratories.
There is nothing like ‘golden freedom’ in wilderness. Wild animals have always to be alert, compete for food, water and space and have to die a lingering death due to diseases, injury, starvation or thirst.
They are often unable to breed due to absence of a mate. Plants growing in wilderness experience equally difficult living conditions. Grazing animals, diseases, forest fires and other calamities often destroy entire plant populations while there is a tough competition for nutrients, space, light etc. Human care eliminates the stresses which living organisms experience in natural habitats and provide conditions necessary for a secure life and breeding.