reintroduce

Reintroduce is a transitive verb meaning to introduce again or to bring back into use, existence, or recognition after an absence. It can apply to people, ideas, practices, products, or living organisms. The related noun is reintroduction, and the adjective reintroduced describes something that has been brought back. Etymology traces to Latin re- “again” and introducere “to lead in.”

In ecology and conservation, reintroduction refers to releasing individuals into their native range from which they have disappeared, with the aim of restoring a self-sustaining population. This differs from introduction, which moves organisms to a new range, and from augmentation or translocation, which move individuals to boost existing populations. Reintroduction programs require careful planning, including habitat assessment, genetic considerations, disease risk management, legal permits, and long-term monitoring to evaluate survival and reproduction.

Examples include the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s and efforts to reintroduce the California condor. Reintroduction is often part of broader restoration strategies that include habitat protection and public engagement. Outside conservation, reintroduce can describe bringing back policies, practices, or cultural elements after a period of removal or inactivity, as well as the act of reintroducing oneself when meeting someone again.