Conservation measures traditionally rely on habitat protection, creation of protected reserves, community education, human- wildlife- conflict mitigation and anti-poaching actions. To add to this toolbox, the ability to keep and breed endangered species in human care is crucial. To be able to breed a wildlife species successfully, we need to know about the reproduction physiology, fertility markers, possibilities of assisted reproduction technologies, and we need genetic diversity. This is what we need to work on now!
Rare Persian leopard youngsters playing in the snow at Tierpark Nordhorn, Germany. These siblings are the first live born offspring after an artificial insemination was performed.
Photo: (c) Franz Frieling