The Big Freeze
Nature’s SAFE is one of Europe’s dedicated facilities capable of the long-term storage of live cells from animal species that are at the greatest risk of extinction.
Working with leading reproductive scientists and cryobiologists, we use state-of-the-art methods to preserve cells in a way that maintains viability, allowing them to be thawed and used to establish pregnancies, restoring endangered animal species.
Nature’s SAFE, through its Living Biobank, is on a mission to safeguard these endangered animal populations for future generations and to realise our vision of a healthy planet. With your help, we can create a future and a legacy we can all be proud of.
Humboldt penguin,
Preserved May 2021
Photo © 2020, Chester Zoo. All rights reserved.
How it Works
We believe it is time to acknowledge our responsibility to this planet and uphold our debt to future generations. With your help, we can ensure these animals continue to leave footprints on this Earth.
Want to see our online brochure? Find it here
Mouse Deer,
Preserved October 2018
Colombian Black Spider Monkey, Preserved August 2020
Panther Chameleon,
Preserved September 2020
Collection
We work with leading zoos and wildlife parks to collect biological samples from endangered animals
Storage
We use unique cryopreservation techniques for the long-term storage of live cells
Restoration
Our scientists conduct innovative research to ensure live cells can be thawed and used practically in endangered species breeding programmes
How Nature’s SAFE Supports Global Challenges
Human activity is causing the sixth mass extinction, the largest predicted loss of biodiversity in 65 million years. It is estimated that 1 million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction, with many predicted to be lost within decades. This catastrophic loss threatens the entire natural balance of our planet, and with it, the very survival of our own species.
We no longer have the luxury of time - it will soon be too late to change direction. Nature’s SAFE provides a path to a more hopeful future for us all by saving animals from extinction and halting biodiversity loss.
Nature’s SAFE contributes to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 15: LIFE ON LAND
To halt the loss of biodiversity and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
We believe it is time to acknowledge our responsibility to this planet and uphold our debt to future generations. With your help, we can ensure animal species continue to leave footprints on this planet.
Many Thanks to the Postcode Local Trust
Postcode Local Trust is a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Our organisation received £16,000 in 2023 from the Trust to start cryopreserving UK wildlife
All information correct at time of publication (December 2020)
References
IUCN. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/ 2022-2 online. IPBES, Global report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, E.S. Brondizio, et al., Editors. 2019, IPBES secreteriat, Bonn, Germany. 3. Ceballos, G., P.R. Ehrlich, and R. Dirzo, Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2017. 114(30): p. E6089-e6096. WHO. Biodiversity and Health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/biodiversity-and-health 2015. 21 November 2020.