extinction prevention
Saving the Cheetah: How a Genetic Sperm Bank Could Prevent Extinction of Earth's Fastest Land Animal
Dec 04, 2025 02:28 pm CST
The Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia maintains a genetic "frozen zoo" containing sperm samples from nearly 400 cheetahs as a last resort against extinction. With wild cheetah populations having declined by 80% in the past 50 years, zoologist Laurie Marker's 35-year preservation project represents a crucial safeguard for the species' survival should natural reproduction become impossible.
141-Year-Old Galapagos Tortoise "Gramma" Dies at San Diego Zoo: A Century-Long Legacy of Conservation
Nov 25, 2025 05:50 pm CST
The San Diego Zoo mourns the loss of Gramma, a 141-year-old Galapagos tortoise who lived through two World Wars and 20 US presidencies. Known as the "Queen of the Zoo," Gramma's remarkable life highlights the conservation challenges facing these endangered reptiles, while recent breeding successes offer hope for the species' survival.