Our first 50 years, our next 50 years
The Frozen Zoo, part of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Wildlife Biodiversity Bank, is a repository of living cell lines and gametes cryopreserved at -320 degrees Fahrenheit. What began as a bold vision 50 years ago has grown into the world’s most extensive wildlife biobank, safeguarding over 11,500 genetic samples from more than 1,330 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
In the face of unprecedented biodiversity loss worldwide, biobanking is genetic insurance. Banked samples preserve the precious diversity of today’s wildlife and represent a vital lifeline for recovery if these species are gone tomorrow. The Frozen Zoo makes it possible to advance genetic rescue techniques, enhance disease resistance, understand how wildlife adapts to climate change, and enable unlimited groundbreaking innovations that are applied to solve real-world conservation challenges.
Together with our partners, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is amplifying our half-century of biobanking expertise, technology, and discoveries to create a thriving future for nature. The next chapter of the Frozen Zoo’s story builds on our decades of collaboration and progress as we launch a new commitment to lead the biobanking of all endangered species worldwide by 2075. Thank you for joining us in celebrating our first 50 years of biodiversity banking and our next 50 years—and beyond—of protecting and restoring nature.
Biodiversity banking together
Biodiversity banking is a team effort, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is committed to connecting a global team of cryopreservation partners. As the Center for Species Survival: Biodiversity Banking, we are stewarding boundless access to learning and resources. We do this by working directly with partners to foster biobanking capacity around the world.
With our last 50 years of pioneering biodiversity banking as a foundation, we are proud to nurture collaborative, international growth. We commence these biobanking efforts at four pilot sites:
- Kenya - Partnering with the Wildlife Research and Training Institute to establish a new cryopreservation facility to serve as a national genetic repository for Kenyan wildlife.
- Vietnam - Providing training on biodiversity banking methods in Vietnam alongside Vinh University’s Institute for Ecology and Conservation of Nature.
- Hawaii - Enhancing on-island capacity and facilities to enable rapid preservation of genetic material for critically endangered birds.
- Peru - Developing a national strategic framework to cryopreserve Peruvian biodiversity together with in-country stakeholders.
This is only the beginning of what we can accomplish together. Every community, country, and culture should have access to hope for the future of their native wildlife. Join us in making this vision a reality. In partnership with the IUCN Species Survival Commission—including our Center for Species Survival and the support of the Animal Biobanking for Conservation Specialist Group—San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is excited grow a global network of passionate biobanking experts. If you are interested in collaborating, please connect with us at CSS-Biobanking@sdzwa.org.
Support the future of biodiversity banking
Through dedicated partnerships and cutting-edge technology, our biobanking efforts are paving the way toward a revolutionary new era of conservation possibilities. Your generosity has an immeasurable impact, propelling biodiversity banking for the world.
Stories
Learn more through inspiring stories about biodiversity banking:
Biobanks: Safeguarding Biodiversity and Preserving Hope ▸
A Network of Biobanking for Conservation ▸