Cheetah Sperm Bank for Conservation

American zoologist Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, has been collecting and storing cheetah sperm for 35 years in a 'frozen zoo'. This initiative aims to safeguard the species from extinction through artificial reproduction, as cheetah numbers have drastically declined by 80% in the wild over the last 50 years due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal trade. The lack of genetic diversity and high rates of abnormal sperm in cheetahs make this sperm bank a potential last resort, similar to efforts to save the Northern white rhinoceros. While Namibia prohibits artificial insemination for wild animals in captivity, the sperm bank serves as a critical backup should the species face extreme decline, as captive breeding is often unsuccessful for cheetahs. The project also draws parallels to successful artificial reproduction efforts for the Black-footed ferret.