Inside San Diego's 'Frozen Zoo:' DNA From Endangered Species Kept For Preservation
Download mp3 (9.77 MB)As climate change threatens species around the globe, there is a different kind of zoo in San Diego that’s aiming to bring some endangered species back.
The San Diego Zoo’s "frozen zoo" is the largest animal cryobank of its kind. There, the cells of over 1,100 species are preserved. But, according to the man who runs the frozen zoo, there are over 20,000 endangered species right now, which means there’s still a long way to go.
Oliver Ryder, director of conservation genetics for San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research, said his eventual goal is to create a global wildlife biobank, a network of labs around the world like the one in San Diego to preserve the cells of more endangered species.
Ryder has been there since the institute was founded in 1975, and The Show spoke to him about his work.
