08/22/2026
Species conservation takes teamwork, and we're proud to collaborate with the Fort Worth Zoo to help protect some of the world's most vulnerable amphibian species.🐸
Fort Worth Zoo reproductive biologist Allison Julien, who specializes in amphibian and reptile conservation, recently visited the Desert Museum to collect s***m samples from several amphibian species, including the critically important Tarahumara frog (Lithobates tarahumarae). The samples will be cryopreserved, which is a process of freezing biological material at ultra-low temperatures for long-term storage, and added to a genetic biobank.
By preserving these genetic resources, we're creating a long-term safeguard for endangered species while also supporting future conservation breeding efforts. These samples can remain stored for years and, when needed, be used through assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization to help produce genetically diverse offspring—whether at the original institution, another accredited facility, or even as part of future wild population recovery efforts.
Every preserved sample represents another opportunity to safeguard biodiversity and ensure these incredible species have a future! 🌎
