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Reproductive Biology

Assisted reproduction may be the last line of defense between survival and extinction for declining wildlife populations

Some wildlife populations have experienced such significant declines due to human activities that assisted reproduction may be the last line of defense between survival and extinction. To help protect wildlife from extinction, we use cutting-edge assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to help preserve genetic diversity in wildlife species whose numbers are critically low or for populations that have become increasingly isolated in small patches of usable habitat.

Captive breeding for threatened and endangered species can also provide an important hedge against extinction until we can resolve serious issues of poaching and habitat loss in the wild. We use our knowledge to develop innovative techniques for improving fertility to ensure the long-term survival of captive populations and for maximizing each animal's chances of passing on their genes to the next generation, even preserving their genetic legacy long after they are gone.