United States Creates 'Noah's Ark' to Save Endangered Species

The Conservation Center for Species Survival in Washington D.C. unveiled measures that are being undertaken to preserve endangered species. Among them are plans to freeze animal sperm, Mexican newspaper Milenio reported.

According to specialists, the conservation center is using the latest techniques like frozen sperm, data banks and ultrasounds with the purpose of completing the "Noah's Ark" project. The project hopes to guarantee the survival of endangered species, which is a consequence of poaching and the destruction of the habitats of many species.

The director of the Conservation Center for Species Survival in the Smithsonian National Zoo explained, "This produced a revolution in zoos that realized they should manage their captive animal populations better." Along with the collaboration of experts, the reproduction programs applied to animals in captivity ensured the survival of endangered species.

Milenio reported that during the 70s, zoos noticed that the offspring of giraffes and some gazelles born in captivity had worse chances of survival due to inbreeding. Now, almost 500 species are part of the survival projects, among them are the elephants of Asia, leopards, American sharks and African antelopes.

The antelope, of the Oryx Dammah family, had been considered extinct by 2000 after suffering from poaching and the destruction of its habitat. However, thanks to the authorities of the Sahara Conservation Fund, the species was successfully restored in captivity. Online breeding agencies for species in captivity have also helped to preserve them, Milenio reported.

In China, the panda population in captivity is under conservation because they are rented out to zoos from around the world. The newspaper explained that biologists are in charge of breeding them before they're returned to China.

With the purpose of preserving animals, some of their genetic data is registered through software. Milenio reported that this allows scientists to better choose a mate for every species and minimize inbreeding, allowing the new species to be born stronger and capable of surviving.