Cryopreserving plants, animals to support endangered species around the globe
The CryoBioBank at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden stores nearly 300 species of plants and about 90 species of animals
CINCINNATI (WXIX) - While wildlife conservation is a pillar in the daily operations at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, there are even more efforts being done behind the scenes.
The zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) uses liquid nitrogen tanks to store and preserve samples of plants and animals. This work is done in their CryoBioBank.
Scientists are able to take samples from the CryoBioBank to support endangered species around the globe.
Dr. Terri Roth, the director of CREW, says cryopreservation has made for many success stories. One specific example includes their work done with samples from the Greater One-Horned Rhino.
“We had cryopreserved his sperm, and so we were able to use that sperm in an artificial insemination procedure in another Greater One-Horned Rhino at a different zoo, and produced his daughter,” Dr. Roth said. “And this was 10 years after his death.”
Dr. Roth says that not every species of plant or animal responds well to cryopreservation. She says their team is constantly doing research to learn more.
“We need to make sure they can survive the thawing and be viable afterwards,” Dr. Roth said.
Those who are interested in learning more about the Cincinnati Zoo’s CryoBioBank can go to their website.
You can also schedule tours of the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 WXIX. All rights reserved.
