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In animals like pure-bred dogs, this is a well-known problem. Starting from an already-limited gene pool (due to closed breed books), followed by breeding (most) females to a limited number of males, eventually results in a highly-inbred population. In turn, this can result in the surfacing of a number of previously-rare or unknown genetic problems, such as high rates of orthopedic problems or propensities toward various cancers.

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This also happens with fish stocks in NA - principally steelhead - whole river's populations wiped out due to years of hatchery programs using too few 'parent fish'(4 TO 6) for the thousands upon thousands of hatchery fish released 'back' into the system. Instead of dying off during their early growth due to defects as would happen in the wild, they are artificially kept alive in the confines of the hatchery. After a while, the entire stock die off on the high seas from compounded genetic problems - weak hearts, kidneys, weak fins - whatever.

It would take rhinos a lot longer, of course, due to the numbers in the que.

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Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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