To solve this question, we need to understand what "Ex-situ conservation" means in the context of biodiversity conservation. Ex-situ conservation involves preserving components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats. Let's examine each option to determine which one does not fit this definition:
- Seed banks: These are facilities used to store seeds of various plant species as a form of genetic resource preservation. This is a classic example of ex-situ conservation, as these seeds are preserved outside their natural habitat.
- Wildlife safari parks: These are controlled environments where animal species are kept under human management in semi-natural settings. They serve the purpose of conservation and education, fitting the ex-situ conservation model.
- Botanical gardens: These gardens maintain collections of living plants for conservation, scientific research, and public education. Plants are grown outside their natural habitats, making this another form of ex-situ conservation.
- Sacred groves: These are areas of forest preserved due to religious or cultural beliefs, where species grow in their natural habitat. This is an example of in-situ conservation, where the natural ecosystem is protected and species are conserved in their natural surroundings.
Therefore, the correct answer is Sacred groves, as it represents in-situ conservation, where species are conserved in their natural habitat, unlike the other options associated with ex-situ conservation.