Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center

15 Sep, 09 AM - 18 Sep, 11 PM

The sand cat (Felis margarita) is one of just 4 species of small-sized cats managed in US zoos by a Species Survival Plan. The goal of these programs is to maintain a genetically viable, captive population of the species as an educational tool for zoo visitors and an insurance against extinction of the species. However, maintaining genetic viability of captive small cats is complicated by small captive poplulations and the ethical problems of collecting additional wild animals in the name of conservation. Our goal is to infuse new genetic diversity into captive populations utilizing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer with frozen-thawed spermatozoa collected from males in different populations and oocytes from females in US zoos. We have collected spermatozoa from captive males in the United Arab Emirates that are completely unrelated to the sand cats in US zoos. This spermatozoa was cryopreserved and will be used for in vitro fertilization with oocytes collected from females at The Living Desert Zoo and Garden as a continuation of research we have been conducting in collaboration with The Living Desert for the last 4 years. The resulting embryos will be transferred into females also at The Living Desert. Any resulting offspring will be bring much needed diversity to the captive population of sand cats in the US without requiring international animal transport or the removal of animals from their natural habitat.

Visit #16097 @Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center

Approved

Under Project # 10478 | Research

Assisted Reproduction for the Conservation of Sand Cats (Felis margarita)

research_scientist - University of Illinois

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Research Scientist/Post Doc Sep 15 - 18, 2008 (4 days)

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Mayhew housing facilities 2 Sep 15 - 18, 2008