Our Work
As EAZA Biobank’s UK-based cryopreservation partner, we work with zoos, wildlife parks and wildlife rescues centres to preserve reproductive cells and tissues from animals threatened with extinction.
Future Regeneration
Right now, populations are declining in 48% of our planet’s animal species. As individuals are lost within a species, genetic diversity is reduced. This makes animals more vulnerable to extinction because genetic diversity confers resilience to disease and environmental changes.
If population numbers drop too low, individual survival rates start to decline dramatically.
We preserve reproductive cells and tissues in a way that ensures their viability for future regeneration. They can then be used to restore genetic diversity to animal populations where it would have otherwise been lost.
The goal of Nature’s SAFE is not to resurrect extinct species, but to prevent their extinction in the first place.
Donaterestoration methods
Restoration of genetically healthy animal populations (genetic rescue) can be achieved through the preservation and future regeneration of sperm cells, reproductive tissues, or even skin cells.
At Nature’s SAFE, we specialise in harvesting post-castration epididymal semen from multiple species. This technique refers to the extraction of sperm cells from the testicular sperm storage site, the epididymis, post-castration of the animal. Whether castration is for breeding control purposes or following death of the animal, post-castration epididymal semen extraction provides a valuable means of capturing and preserving semen samples from endangered species that would otherwise be lost.
Semen samples can be thawed and used for artificial insemination (AI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), to establish live pregnancies in females.
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Egg cells are much more difficult to preserve from exotic animals compared to humans and domestic animals. Additionally, in some cases it may not be possible to collect viable semen from males.
For situations where preservation of either sperm or egg cells is not possible, we may instead preserve ovarian or testicular tissue. These tissues can be collected and cryopreserved after scheduled castrations/sterilisations or death of the animal. In the future, the tissue can then be thawed and cultured to produce live egg or sperm cells. One goal of Nature’s SAFE is to develop protocols for many species to generate reproductive cells for use in future breeding programmes.
These reproductive cells can then be used to establish live pregnancies through techniques such as IVF using a surrogate female.
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The most pioneering technique within the field of assisted reproductive technologies is the use of induced pluripotent stem cells. These are naïve cells which can be directed to form a specific cell type. Under the right conditions, skin cells can be turned into induced pluripotent stem cells which can then be directed to grow into reproductive cells.
These reproductive cells can then be used to establish live pregnancies through techniques such as IVF using a surrogate female.
Learn Morepeer-reviewed scientific literature
2024
Hutchinson AM et al. (2024) Advancing stem cell technologies for conservation of wildlife biodiversity. Development 151(20). (https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.203116)
2023
Mooney A, Ryder OA, Houck ML, Staerk J, Conde DA, Buckley YM (2023) Maximizing the potential for living cell banks to contribute to global conservation priorities. Zoo Biology 42(6) 697-708. (https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21787)
2022
Bolton RL, Mooney A, Pettit MT, Bolton AE, Morgan L, Drake GJ, Appeltant R, Walker SL, Gillis JD, & Hvilsom C. (2022). Resurrecting biodiversity: advanced assisted reproductive technologies and biobanking. Reproduction and Fertility 3(3) R121-R146. (https://doi.org/10.1530/RAF-22-0005)
2021
Watt AM, Marcec-Greaves R, Hinkson KM, Poo S, Roberts B & Pitcher TE (2021) Effects of age on sperm quality metrics in endangered Mississippi gopher frogs (Lithobates sevosus) from captive populations used for controlled propagation and reintroduction efforts. Zoo Biology 40 218–226. (https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21594)
2019
Comizzoli P & Holt WV (2019) Breakthroughs and new horizons in reproductive biology of rare and endangered animal species. Biology of Reproduction 101 514–525. (https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioz031)
Gosden RG (2019) Time for fertility preservation. Reproduction 158(5) E1-E4. (https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-19-0155)
2014
Whiteley AR, Fitzpatrick SW, Funk WC, Tallmon DA (2014) Genetic rescue to the rescue. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 30(1) 42-49. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2014.10.009)
1997
Wildt DE & Roth TL (1997) Assisted reproduction for managing and conserving threatened felids. International Zoo Yearbook 35 164–172. (https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1090.1997.tb01207.x)
We need your help
Every penny counts
At least 50 different genetic lines are needed to save one species.
As a charity, we provide processing and storage services to our conservation partners free of charge. On average, it takes £100 of resources to process each sample.
Make a monthly donation to safeguard nature’s future.
Donate Now
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