Gabby Drake (Chester Zoo & Nature’s SAFE) presented a talk at the British Deer Veterinary Association meeting held on 26 November 2022, on developing methods to support the breeding of the Balabac mouse deer (Tragulus nigricans). This species of mouse deer is listed by the IUCN as endangered and there is a small, and mainly female, population managed in European zoos. Mouse deer, also called chevrotains, were an early branch of the evolutionary group ruminatia, and as well as sharing features with their cousins the cervids, share some features with the suids too, making then unchartered territory for assisted reproduction. The presentation included techniques for post mortem semen collection and storage, artificial insemination and monitoring of reproductive hormone cycles and pregnancy diagnosis using non-invasive faecal samples. Clinical techniques are challenging in these tiny animals and the reported Artificial Insemination attempt represents a first for this species, and a step towards developing assisted reproductive technologies to further their conservation.
Don’t miss
Our new partnership with The Deep—an education and conservation charity with a public aquarium in Hull, East Yorkshire - will help us preserve more marine and freshwater species.
Chessington Zoo - home to over 1,000 animals including lions, tigers and gorillas - has taken a significant step forward in their efforts to conserve threatened species by partnering with Nature's SAFE.
Last week, we had the incredible opportunity to visit two of our valued conservation partners – Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park and Watatunga Wildlife Reserve. These two institutions both exemplify the profound impact that dedication to wildlife preservation can have on protecting our planet's biodiversity.
Red river hog
Total Population: Unknown
Green Iguana
Total Population: Around 1.3 million in the wild
South American fur seal
Total Population: Around 200,000 in the wild
Brandt’s vole
Total Population: Unknown
Collared peccary
Total Population: More than 2,000,000 in the wild
Black-naped fruit dove
Total Population: Unknown
Black tree monitor
Total Population: Unknown
Asian short-clawed otter
Total Population: Unknown
Scimitar-horned oryx
Total Population: Around 400 in the wild
Okapi
Total Population: Less than 25,000 in the wild
Lesser Madagascan tenrec
Total Population: Unknown
Black howler monkey
Total Population: Less than 5,000 in the wild
African wild dog
Total Population: Around 6,600 in the wild
Smew
Total Population: Around 80,000 in the wild
Southern white rhino
Total Population: Around 15,000 in the wild
Komodo dragon
Total Population: Around 3,500 in the wild
Common Eland
Total Population: 90,000 to 110,000 in the wild
White naped mangabey
Total Population: Around 1,000 in the wild
Nile Lechwe
Total Population: 30,000 - 40,000 in the wild
Chimpanzee
Total Population: 170,000 - 300, 000 in the wild
Black Hornbill
Total Population: Unknown
Bush dog
Total Population: Unknown
