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
In an exciting milestone for UK wildlife conservation, the charity has now safely stored cell tissues from the critically endangered Scottish wildcat, bringing their total number of species banked to 200.
Living Biobank Charity, Nature’s SAFE, will be saving rare UK wildlife thanks to Postcode Local Trust.
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.
Senegal galago
Total Population: Unknown
Bactrian camel
Total Population: Less than 1,000 in the wild
Bar-headed goose
Total Population: 97,000 - 118,000 in the wild
Southern white rhino
Total Population: Around 15,000 in the wild
African Lion
Total Population: 20,000 - 25,000 in the wild
Hamerkop
Total Population: Unknown
White naped mangabey
Total Population: Around 1,000 in the wild
Black tree monitor
Total Population: Unknown
Guianan Squirrel Monkey
Total Population: Around 150,000 in the wild
Smew
Total Population: Around 80,000 in the wild
Babirusa
Total Population: Less than 10,000 in the wild
Owston’s palm civet
Total Population: Unknown
African wild dog
Total Population: Around 6,600 in the wild
Sloth bear
Total Population: Less than 20,000 in the wild
Scimitar-horned oryx
Total Population: Around 400 in the wild
Red-footed tortoise
Total Population: Unknown
Fea’s tree frog
Total Population: Unknown
Mandarin duck
Total Population: Around 65,000 in the wild
Lesser Madagascan tenrec
Total Population: Unknown
Orange-headed thrush
Total Population: Unknown
Okapi
Total Population: Less than 25,000 in the wild
Mandrill
Total Population: Unknown
