What we know about species in captivity, and their reproductive behaviors, can tell us when animals have been poached or successfully bred in captivity. The result can be critical for species such as the short-beaked echidna which are endangered in the wild. Learn more about the role of conservation leaders and global wildlife data in the story reported at National Geographic Wildlife Watch, with DANIELLE BEURTEAUX.

…Conservation nonprofit Species360 notes that the zoo populations of members in 96 countries are home to 180 short-beaked echidnas. And in all the years from 1902 to 2013, U.S. zoos, which kept a total of 119, bred only 19 puggles. Today, U.S. zoos have 28 short-beaked echidnas in 11 zoos, and according to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the last puggle birth was in 2008.