I have decided to do my own list, trying to include one mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish and invertebrate apiece. I've based at least part of my list on the captive breeding recommendations list produced by the IUCN (link to the full list of recommendations at the bottom of the post).
Mammal - The
large-spotted civet (
Viverra megaspila) was actually recommended for captive breeding back in 1993 by the GCAP (Global Captive Action Plan) for small carnivores. The initial plan was for European and Indian zoos to cooperate on a captive programme for the Malabar civet, while America and Thailand were to handle the large-spotted civet. Of course, even when this plan was made the Malabar civet had not been seen for five years and is more than likely extinct now. Large-spotted civets have been kept in captivity before and other members of their genus have certainly been bred in captivity. (The GCAP's recommendations are included here -
http://nebula.wsimg.com/f7f18a3ac9a...369A09ED705622D78&disposition=0&alloworigin=1)
Bird - The
Bannerman's turaco (
Tauraco bannermani) is recommended on the IUCN's list. The vast majority of turacos housed in European collections are of the
Tauraco genus and they have proven to be both popular additions to African rainforest-themed exhibits and not too difficult to breed. The Bannerman's species would make both an attractive exhibit species and important from a conservation standpoint.
Reptile - The
day gecko (
Phelsuma antanosy) is the only member of its genus included on the IUCN recommended list. These geckos are diurnal and as such highly visible, are relatively easy to house and care for and is Critically Endangered. The breeding programme recommended for this gecko is a small-scale one, so potentially only one or two zoos would need to cooperate to make such a programme work.
Amphibian - The
Royal false brook salamander (
Pseudoeurycea rex) is on the IUCN recommended list. It beats out other worthy contenders by the fact that although this Critically Endangered species is not kept in any captive collection (to my knowledge), other members of its genus have been kept and bred in both American zoos and in the private sector.
Fish -
The Maltese skate (
Leucoraja melitensis) is the sole species on this list that has not been recommended for captive breeding anywhere. However, it is a Critically Endangered species that would be an ideal candidate for captive breeding as other
Leucoraja rays seem to have no trouble reproducing in aquaria. They would also be a good umbrella species for zoos and aquariums to educate visitors on the sudden mass-decline in Mediterranean cartilaginous fishes (
https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/content/documents/brochure_medredlist_sharks.pdf).
Invertebrate - The
yellow spiky woodlouse (
Pseudolaureola atlantica) and
Dracula ant (
Adetomyrma venatrix). I could not choose between the two, but considering that invertebrates are not the most space-hungry of creatures it would probably be good to include both. The woodlouse already has an emergency breeding programme being planned for it. It is Critically Endangered and is found only on a UK Overseas Territory, so it is in the interest of British zoos to be involved in its conservation. It also helps that they look amazing. The Dracula ant has already been kept in captivity (at the California Academy of Sciences) and considering both their Critically Endangered status, their specific behaviour and a fascination by zoo-goers for ants in general (by my observations) would make them another ideal candidate.
Here is the workbook containing all the IUCN's captive breeding recommendations:
IUCN Red List Captive Breeding Recommendations | Conservation Breeding Specialist Group
). Think Polar Bears should be financially supported a fair bit more so exhibits all have the best quality cold temperature sustainability (and obviously any other species with these needs including the total opposite like tropical animals getting the best canopy and heating facilitation etc etc).
