Not mere coincidence of course, but cause and effect. Because hunting ranches WILL want to hunt them, they have been conserving them and breeding them, to HUNT them one day.

Conservation, to use wisely, and maybe make a buck out of it,

vs

Preservation, to not use at all, have little economic value, and probably end up ffffing it all up in the long run as a result.

As for the main story item, I've always thought zoos and animal parks should feed live animals to the carnivores. Provide a public spectacle, even if for the "plastic monkeys" not pleasant, also provide some excitement for the carnivores. Maybe would improve their breeding results, the stimulation of a live kill rather than being given a hunk of meat.

Hey Gryph, don't you think Steve Urwin and co, used to and do, feed roos ( ie roo meat) to the crocs?

Maybe not live ones though.