# @thetorontozoo on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DGvVHIkt4tq
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/29017149-thetorontozoo-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/03103235e2.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-03-03T13:51:52.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Toronto Zoo (@thetorontozoo) — https://gondola.cc/thetorontozoo

## Caption

On this #WorldWildlifeDay, your Toronto Zoo recognizes that nearly one in three species is currently threatened with extinction on our planet.

As a result, conservation programs are increasingly implementing the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s One Plan Approach that incorporates both in-country and human-care management practices.

Accredited zoos, such as your Toronto Zoo, play a major role in managed care approaches to conservation of species through activities such as biobanking. Biobanking is the storage of genetic material - including living sperm, eggs, cells, and tissues-, often for later use with assisted reproductive technologies to manage genetic diversity and sustainability of zoo and free-ranging populations.

Recently, Toronto Zoo researchers including Dr. Gabriela Mastromonaco and Dr. Devin Chen published a literature review and analysis describing past and future trends of wildlife biobanking. The research found that biobanking literature in association with zoos and aquariums has tripled since 2019, with the increasing trend likely due to the growing awareness and concern over global biodiversity loss, along with the expanding efforts to establish biobanks. The analysis also revealed that most research thus far has focused on mammals, while species such as sharks/rays, insects, and fungi need more biobanking attention.

A search of current wildlife biobanks found that Europe, Asia, and North America were the most represented continents, while South America, Africa, and Australia were the least represented. Biodiversity hotspots, areas with the world’s most at-risk and endemic species, could benefit from more wildlife biobanks.

Overall, this publication serves as a resource to guide the development of wildlife biobanks as an alternative approach to increase conservation impact for at-risk species globally. #ScienceMatters #GuardiansofWild

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## Tags

guardiansofwild, worldwildlifeday, sciencematters

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