As the powerhouses of the cell, mitochondria can directly impact an individual’s fitness in terms of its fertility and the process of aging. In general, mitochondrial DNA is exclusively transmitted via the mother, and as a result natural selection works in favor of females over males. One potential side-effect of this is the accumulation of male-harming mutations in the mitochondrial DNA, a process labelled “mother's curse”, a phenonemon described in both humans, animal models and livestock. Here we provide empirical evidence on the presence of mtDNA-induced sex-specifc differences in ex-situ population . We analyzed a total of sixteen EAZA Ex-situ Populations (EEPs) through their studbooks, with a focus on survival and fertility. While no significant differences were found in terms of fertility, our results indicate survival of males is affected in several mitochondrial lineages within the studbooks under study. Additionally, we found that some mitochondrial lineages were more beneficial for both sexes relative to other lineages of the same populations. These results are of interest in the revived debate on the maintenance of healthy ex-situ populations and safeguarding their genetic diversity for both ex-situ and in-situ conservation.