Research shows that genetic testing may be able to identify some captive tigers, which do not have complete studbook records, as pure-bred members of a subspecies. Obviously this would have considerable benefits to captive gene pools if all tigers of indeterminate pedigree could be tested reliably. BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Captive tigers 'may save species' Alan
That's a very useful discovery but I wonder how many 'generic' tigers will actually receive the test. How will it work in practise- would a zoo have to apply to have its tigers tested and provide the funding too? And if a pure tiger is identified somewhere, it might need to be removed elsewhere for breeding purposes, so the owning zoo could lose out... (Just highlighting a couple of problems....)