Application of Assisted Reproductive Technology for Wildlife Conservation

Abstract

In recent years, the population of wildlife species has been decreasing at an alarming rate due to human activities. This study aims to compile, synthesize, and review more in depth the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that support the propagation program in wildlife conservation. The data was obtained from several articles, journals, books and credible websites via a web-based search of the Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The data were further selected based on the abstract content and evaluated based on relevance for this review. Based on the results, knowledge of the reproductive physiology, anatomy, and behavior of speciesspecific protocols for ART can decrease the risk of extinction in wildlife, support the conservation of endangered wildlife, and to help professionals into better wildlife reproductive management. Few methods of ART in wildlife namely the artificial insemination, embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, somatic cell nuclear transfer, and biobank. ART helps to avoid inbreeding or outbreeding depression, decrease risks of transmission of inherited diseases, boost number of offspring, and enhance genetic exchange to increase the heterozygosity of wildlife population.