ARGENTINA: Scientists at Buenos Aires Zoo collect the genetic material of South American felines to prevent extinction

Record ID: 446605

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Scientists at Buenos Aires Zoo collect the genetic material of South American felines to prevent extinction
  • Date: 23rd December 2005
  • Summary: L!2) BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (DECEMBER 20, 2005) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BUENOS AIRES ZOO WITH LAKE VARIOUS OF PUMAS IN ZOO EATING VARIOUS OF PUMAS IN ENCLOSURE VARIOUAS OF VISITORS LOOKING VARIOUS OF JAGUARUNDI (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ZOO BIOLOGIST, LUIS JACOME, SAYING: "What we're doing is creating a genetic bank for the 10 species of felines that live in South America. This is a bank of liquid nitrogen, thermoses that contain nitrogen at 196 degrees below zero (Celsius) and, in those conditions, through special means and special techniques, it is possible to store genetic material, warehouse it, to permit not just not just generate genetic studies, physiological studies, but also and fundamentally reproduction." ZOO BIOLOGISTS WALKING THROUGH PARK VARIOUS OF BIOLOGISTS WORKING IN LABORATORY WITH GENETIC MATERIAL/ TAKING SAMPLES OUT OF FREEZER VARIOUS OF BIOLOGISTS CHECKING SAMPLES AND PUTTING GENETIC MATERIAL ON SLIDE FOR MICROSCOPE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ZOO BIOLOGIST, ADRIAN SESTELO, SAYING: "Organize the collections and you find out who is who in each of the zoos and, in that way, you could decide how they reproduce to maximize the biodiversity, not to generate endogamy (inbreeding) in those offspring." WIDE OF BIOLOGIST LOOKING AT JAGUARETI SEMEN THROUGH MICROSCOPE/ HAND ADJUSTING FOCUS ON MICROSCOPE CLOSE OF SAMPLES SEEN UNDER MICROSCOPE VARIOUS OF NITROGEN CONTAINERS IN WHICH GENETIC SAMPLES ARE STORED VARIOUS OF FELIS SILVESTRIS CAT EATING VARIOUS OF JAGUAR
  • Embargoed: 7th January 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Nature / Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVABSEIKJWQOOEC977L1AM29EHM
  • Story Text: The Buenos Aires Zoo is doing more than just feeding, exercising and caring for their animals these days - they're also trying to save them from extinction with an innovative international programme to freeze their genetic material.
    Scientists at the zoo launched the programme earlier this year to collect genetic material from South American felines at the zoo and store them in a frozen gene bank.
    Initially, the biologists are collecting the samples from each of the ten felines native to the continent to guard against the possibility of extinction.
    Their work includes collecting semen, hair and tissue samples and keeping them in liquid nitrogen at 196 degrees below zero.
    The scientists hope to preserve the biodiversity of the species and prevent the extinction of any of them. They also anticipate the possibility of using the material to increase the population through artificial insemination.
    "What we're doing is creating a genetic bank for the 10 species of felines that live in South America," said biologist Luis Jacome. "This is a bank of liquid nitrogen, thermoses that contain nitrogen at 196 degrees below zero (Celsius) and, in those conditions, through special means and special techniques, it is possible to store genetic material, warehouse it, to permit not just not just generate genetic studies, physiological studies, but also and fundamentally reproduction."
    Another biologist explained that the project has multiple goals.
    "Organize the collections and you find out who is who in each of the zoos and, in that way, you could decide how they reproduce to maximize the biodiversity, not to generate endogamy (inbreeding) in those offspring," said Adrian Sestelo.
    The project, in conjunction with the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid, involves at least 21 scientists and technicians who are collecting samples from zoos in Europe and Argentina and sharing information.
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