Paweł Borecki from the PhD School at the University of Life Sciences in Wrocław is conducting research to protect one of the most endangered penguin species – Cape penguins. His work opens up new possibilities in the conservation of endangered species through cryopreservation of genetic material.

The main aim of the research is to develop a method for the cryopreservation of Cape penguin semen to enable the creation of a biobank of genetic resources of critically endangered species.

The Cape penguin population is declining at an alarming rate. At the beginning of the 20th century, some four million individuals could be found off the coast of Africa, where the species originated. 

“When we started breeding these birds in our zoo, this number was around 50 000, and today it has dropped below 30 000. Given this rapid decline in numbers, without intervention the species could become extinct in the wild in the next 15-20 years”, says the PhD student.

Read more: https://upwr.edu.pl/aktualnosci/na-ratunek-pingwinom-przyladkowym-4285.html