Most of the animals in Korkeasaari Zoo are born either here or some other zoo. As all responsible zoos, Korkeasaari Zoo does not buy or sell animals – with the exception of justified individual cases. This way the zoos do not support illegal animal trade, which is one of the most significant reasons why species become endangered. Some of Korkeasaari Zoo’s inhabitants are former victims of illegal pet trade that have been rescued.
The procreation of each species is taken into account beforehand. Some of the animals born in Korkeasaari Zoo remain here, while some are taken to other reputable zoos. For species included in ex-situ conservation programmes this is done according to recommendations from the species coordinator. These animal transfers help avoid breeding between close relatives, which secures the genetic diversity of the species.