Current scientific opinion is that big cats which have been born and bred in captivity can not be released into the wild. Although each case may differ, some of the general reasons they cannot be released include: Hunting: Big cats born in captivity have not learned  to hunt and may not succeed to provide their own food. Humans: While wild big cats are naturally afraid of humans, captive bred big cats in general associate humans with food and lack this natural fear. Instead of avoiding humans, the chance that they will approach humans is high, causing more human-wildlife conflicts and leading to dangerous situations for both the animals and humans. Diseases: Captive bred big cats differ from their wild conspecifics, and have become more susceptible to the diseases and parasites occurring in regions where their wild conspecific occur. The possible inbreeding or crossbreeding of captive big cats due to the lack of effective breeding management can also pose a risk to existing wild populations and their immune system. Habitat: One of the main problems big cat populations face in the wild is habitat loss. The species are in decline due to a lack of appropriate space for them. Due to habitat loss human-wildlife conflict is increasing. Simply adding more predators to a poorly managed area would only make things worse. Wild population numbers would benefit more from habitat protection or the relocation of wild big cats, than from the release of captive big cats into these environments. Most of the big cats under the care of FOUR PAWS, were previously kept under extremely poor conditions and are in some cases even severely inbred. These big cats have developed various behavioural abnormalities and health issues, making it impossible for them to survive in the wild. FOUR PAWS big cat sanctuaries offer a species-appropriate and safe forever home for these animals, which have no genetic value for conservation. FOUR PAWS strictly does not breed any of its rescued big cats and opposes such practices.