SCOTTISH wildcats could be included in a new “cryogenic Noah’s Ark”.
Nature’s SAFE is a charity that is sailing to the rescue of the world’s most endangered species by collecting live cells from them before they become extinct.
The charity, which is based in Shropshire and is working with partners including the European Association of Zoos, claims it is creating Europe’s first living biobank.
“Nature’s SAFE is unique in its ability to process and live store multiple cell types from multiple endangered species,” founder Tullis Matson told the Sunday National.
“There are many other biobanks in the world but unlike Nature’s SAFE, samples within these repositories are often stored in a dead state for conservation genetic research. Nature’s SAFE processes samples in a way that maintains viability. Once thawed, these living cells can be used directly in endangered species breeding programmes producing pregnancies in our most endangered animal species, or for cell culture.”