Meeting red wolf recovery criteria: Cryogenic preservation of red wolf sperm

Did you know that the current red wolf recovery plan has four recovery objectives? We often focus on establishing populations and avoiding extinction, but another recovery objective is to maintain the red wolf into perpetuity through embryo banking and cryogenic preservation of sperm. This work is coordinated through by the Red Wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP) through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The majority of this research occurs at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium under the guidance of the Red Wolf SSP Reproductive Advisor and SSP Coordinator.

Red wolf sperm under the microscope. Photo credit: Toronto Zoo.

Using technologies to support red wolf conservation and population sustainability relies on the help and expertise of many individuals and organizations. One such technology that the Red Wolf SSP began using in 1990 is the freezing of sperm collected from red wolves managed in the captive population. Initially developed within the livestock industry, the process involved in semen collection and freezing has been refined and improved over the years and is now used for a variety of species including those that may be threatened or endangered. In fact, many dog owners will “bank” samples to preserve, for example, sperm from valuable show or hunting dogs. These samples can potentially be used for artificial insemination to produce offspring once an animal is beyond its breeding age or has passed away. The International Canine Semen Bank (ICSB), located in Oregon, stores samples for the Red Wolf SSP and has produced dog litters from frozen semen that had been stored for 38 years prior to thawing and insemination.

Collected samples are analyzed under the microscope to exam sperm motility, concentration, and the percentage of normal shaped sperm. If these samples are sufficiently vigorous, the process for freezing begins. This basically involves combining the samples with an extender or cyroprotectant to safeguard the cells against damage during freezing followed by a slow cooling phase for 30 minutes. The samples are then carefully pipetted on to a block of dry ice with small indentations to form pellets and left to sit for 3 minutes. Finally, the pellets are plunged into liquid nitrogen, placed in small vials, and sent to ICSB for storage in liquid nitrogen tanks. 

Samples being "pelleted" onto dry ice.

Photo credit: Jesse Michener/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. 

Karen Goodrowe-Beck, Red Wolf SSP Reproductive Advisor, 

processing samples for examination.

Photo credit: Jesse Michener/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

 

While this is kind of approach is not meant to replace red wolves breeding naturally, it is a valuable tool that we can use to manage the red wolf population into the future.

Red Wolf Species Survival Plan

What is a Species Survival Plan (SSP?). The American SSP program was developed in 1981 by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The mission of an AZA SSP Program is to cooperatively manage specific, and typically threatened or endangered, species population within AZA-accredited Zoos and Aquariums, and other AZA conservation partners including Certified Related Facilities, and Approved Non-Member Participants.

SSP programs focus on animals that are in danger of extinction in the wild, these captive breeding programs may be their only chance to survive; these programs also help maintain healthy and genetically diverse animal populations within the zoo community. SSP programs significantly contribute to field conservation efforts, species recovery, veterinary care for wildlife disease issues, and establishment of assurance populations. There are currently more than 300 SSP Programs, each managed by their corresponding Taxon Advisory Groups, within AZA. For each species, a comprehensive population Studbook and a Breeding and Transfer Plan are developed which identifies population management goals and recommendations to ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied AZA population.

Red Wolves were nearing extinction in the wild when the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington established a captive-breeding program in association with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Point Defiance Zoo developed husbandry techniques, recruited four additional cooperating institutions to house wolves in the captive program and received AZA approval for a Red Wolf SSP program in 1984. By 1984, the captive population numbered 63 individuals and was growing, largely through the coordinated efforts of the Point Defiance Zoo and Red Wolf SSP cooperators.  These efforts made the release of red wolves into the first reintroduction site at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in 1987 possible.  Today, there are 43 SSP facilities participating in the Red Wolf SSP program (use this link for map and websites of all SSP cooperators), with ~190 red wolves.  The Red Wolf SSP is the foundation of the recovery program. Without its collective expertise and resources, the future of the red wolf would be uncertain. The contributions of the RWSSP include: (1) managing populations, (2) training field personnel on techniques for proper capture and restraint, (3) applying captive research to the field and (4) reintroducing captive born red wolves.

 Red wolf SSP locations. 

Successful conservation programs are often developed through partnerships. The Red Wolf Recovery Program is a great example of organizations working together to benefit a species. Zoos can play a significant role in red wolf recovery by informing visitors about the value of wolves in ecosystems and inspiring the public to support the wolf's reestablishment in the wild.  We encourage you to check out the websites of the Red Wolf SSP program participants.  There are a lot of photos, videos, and educational resources available on red wolves! Most of them also have Facebook pages, blogs, Twitter, and You Tube accounts as well.

Here’s just a few you can explore the resources of:

Chattanooga Nature Center (Chattanooga, TN)

Endangered Wolf Center (Eureka, MO)

Fort Worth Zoological Park (Fort Worth, TX)

Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens (Chicago, IL)

North Carolina Museum of Life & Science (Durham, NC)

Wildlife Science Center (Forest Lake, MN)

Wolf Conservation Center of New York  (South Salem, NY)

Red wolf cam video at Wolf Conservation Center of New York