Research overview: balancing genetic and demographic management in felids

Managing captive felid populations requires balancing genetic goals, such as retaining diversity, against demographic goals, such as maintaining stable numbers and age structure. This overview surveys how breeding programs reconcile these sometimes competing aims, for example when the genetically most valuable animals are old or when limited space constrains how many offspring can be produced. It reviews modeling tools that project population size, genetic diversity, and sustainability under different breeding scenarios. The review connects this balance to space limits, welfare, and the role of assisted reproduction. Understanding the interplay of genetic and demographic management clarifies the practical trade-offs that program coordinators navigate to keep felid populations both genetically healthy and demographically secure.