Going out with a bang...Long Winded Post

[RZL36]

I don't understand why you wouldn't propagate healthy species into an area. My thing is that humans probably kill way more snakes (willingly or inadvertently) than probably any specific affliction in the wild. I really don't think of it as playing god. I think of it as replenishing the losses of others playing god.

However, I am not saying that captive reptiles make the best genetic stock for reintroduction. I think that ensuring that two wild caught specimens produce adequate stock for reintroduction is fine. I mean catch, breed, release. I mean releasing gravid females. Interfering as little as possible, so that these things we care about are going to be around in the future. I do respect your concern about the practice and its negative consequences if done so haphazardly.

[rancor_]

I don't understand why you wouldn't propagate healthy species into an area. My thing is that humans probably kill way more snakes (willingly or inadvertently) than probably any specific affliction in the wild. I really don't think of it as playing god. I think of it as replenishing the losses of others playing god.

This is true, but not necessarily correct. There, to me at least, are more ways to adversely effect the population than to aid it. Not every snake should be a breeder, possessing the correct genes to pass on to the locale of animals. Survival of the fittest cant really work if the participants are forced together. Also, I used the example provided in previous posts arguing what i had said, (loss of habitat). But assuming this isnt at all the reason, predators,(introduced or not), competition with another species, inadequate brumation spots, environmental pollution, lack of food....All of these common reasons for a decline of a species would be unaffected by simply dumping more animals into the ecosystem. They would need to be addressed first, otherwise, the released snakes would be more lunch for a predator, starve to death or freeze in the winter.
My use of the term "playing god" was deliberate in the sense that I believe too much would need to be done in addition to producing more animals. This is not to say anyone who is releasing isnt also taking steps to better the survival of the snakes, more of a prod to find that out.
I by no means meant anyone should justify to me what they do, not at all. But again, questions are mere questions until they are garnished with answers.