Enhancing genetic management in captive Asian elephants: Evaluation of mitochondrial single-nucleotide polymorphism markers for improved breeding and conservation in the Elephant Kingdom, Thailand

Evaluation of mtSNP markers highlights their utility in assessing genetic diversity and kinship in captive Asian elephant populations in EK, Thailand. However, the observed discrepancies between pedigree-based and molecular-based kinship estimates underscore the limitations of the current mtSNP panel. The findings emphasize the need for integrating nuclear SNPs to enhance the precision of genetic management strategies, enabling better-informed decisions to preserve genetic diversity and mitigate inbreeding risks in conservation breeding programs, not only for the EK but also as a framework that can be adapted for broader conservation efforts.