Gabby Drake (Chester Zoo & Nature’s SAFE) presented a talk at the British Deer Veterinary Association meeting held on 26 November 2022, on developing methods to support the breeding of the Balabac mouse deer (Tragulus nigricans). This species of mouse deer is listed by the IUCN as endangered and there is a small, and mainly female, population managed in European zoos. Mouse deer, also called chevrotains, were an early branch of the evolutionary group ruminatia, and as well as sharing features with their cousins the cervids, share some features with the suids too, making then unchartered territory for assisted reproduction. The presentation included techniques for post mortem semen collection and storage, artificial insemination and monitoring of reproductive hormone cycles and pregnancy diagnosis using non-invasive faecal samples. Clinical techniques are challenging in these tiny animals and the reported Artificial Insemination attempt represents a first for this species, and a step towards developing assisted reproductive technologies to further their conservation.
Don’t miss
Nature’s SAFE, the conservation charity on a mission to Save Animals From Extinction, is expanding its collaborative network having formed an exciting new partnership with Shepreth Wildlife Park.
More than 40,000 species are currently at risk of extinction. Through a unified mission to save those species most at risk a new partnership has been formed between Paignton Zoo and Nature’s SAFE.
Nature’s SAFE, Europe’s first living biobank for endangered animals dedicated to halting the catastrophic decline in global biodiversity, is pleased to announce that it is joining the Global Coalition #UnitedforBiodiversity, initiative of the European Commission.
Red-footed tortoise
Total Population: Unknown
Smew
Total Population: Around 80,000 in the wild
Mandarin duck
Total Population: Around 65,000 in the wild
Wolverine
Total Population: Around 13,000 in the wild
Asiatic Lion
Total Population: Around 650 in the wild
Black howler monkey
Total Population: Less than 5,000 in the wild
Babirusa
Total Population: Less than 10,000 in the wild
Hamerkop
Total Population: Unknown
Macaroni Penguin
Total Population: Around 12 million
Hyacinth macaw
Total Population: Around 6,500 in the wild
White naped mangabey
Total Population: Around 1,000 in the wild
Lesser Madagascan tenrec
Total Population: Unknown
Little egret
Total Population: 660,000 to 3,150,000 in the wild
Arctic wolf
Total Population: Around 200,000 in the wild
Sumatran laughing thrush
Total Population: 2,500 - 10,000 in the wild
Scimitar-horned oryx
Total Population: Around 400 in the wild
Bar-headed goose
Total Population: 97,000 - 118,000 in the wild
Guianan Squirrel Monkey
Total Population: Around 150,000 in the wild
Common Hippo
Total Population: Less than 150,000 in the wild
Eurasian Red Squirrel
Total Population: 120,000 to 160,000 in the wild
Spix’s night monkey
Total Population: Unknown
