• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Thursday, February 25, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

How domestic cats could save the ‘Highland tiger’

BCR by BCR
February 18, 2013
in News World
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

By Steve Connor, Science Editor

Wednesday, 18 August 2010

A new form of cloning could offer a way of preserving genes of endangered animals, such as the Scottish wildcat.

Pound for pound, they are as fierce as their full-size counterparts but their dwindling numbers mean “Highland tigers” are also just as endangered. With only 400 Scottish wildcats thought to be living in the wild, scientists are now preparing a radical new approach to saving the the rare felines.

You might also like

Cub Petting Shame

Rules

GoFree

The controversial plan involves the recruitment of the domestic cat, a completely different species, to help save Britain’s most iconic mammalian predator. The project is set to raise eyebrows among some animal conservationists, not least because it is the domestic moggie that is arguably the Scottish wildcat’s biggest problem.

The domestic cat, which originated from another species of wildcat living in the Middle East, is threatening the extinction of the pure-bred Scottish wildcat by interbreeding, which dilutes the wildcat’s precious gene pool. But the scientists behind the new initiative believe that house cats can play a critical role in preserving the wildcat’s threatened status with the help of artificial reproductive technology. Zoologists and reproductive specialists intend to develop revolutionary cloning techniques that build on scientific knowledge of the domestic cat’s reproductive system.

The project, funded by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland with expertise drawn from the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) Human Reproductive Sciences Unit in Edinburgh, is being seen as a template for other initiatives aimed at helping with cloning technology.

Iain Valentine, director of animals, conservation and education at the Society, said the plan is to collect and store tissue samples from Highland wildcats in order to use them at some future point in time when scientists work out the best way of boosting their numbers in the wild with the help of artificial reproductive technology.

“It makes absolute sense to me because we are running out of time to work out how to manage these animals in the wild, and so the best thing we can do is collect cells, bang them in the freezer, bank it for a future date and hope that we can get the bits of the equation sorted out in the wild as well,” Dr Valentine said.

Traditional approaches to wildcat conservation, centred on restoring its natural habitat, are not being abandoned, but augmented by the new technology of reproductive biology, he said. “For conservationists, looking after these animals in the wild is fundamental. [We] are talking about another tool in the box and a lot of conservationists haven’t actually switched on to this. At a time when we are losing species across the planet at a huge rate of knots, we’re going to need everything we can,” he said.

“We’re still at the early stages of talking about applying this technology to the Scottish wild cat but it seems to me an absolutely perfect candidate species for it. The domestic cat and its biology and physiology is pretty well understood, so if we can take what we know about the domestic cat to unlock a little bit more about the biology of the wild cat, we will have a very powerful tool we can apply,” Dr Valentine said.

The project will involve the Zimbabwean-born director of the MRC unit, Professor Robert Millar, who has helped to establish an institute for the breeding of endangered African using reproductive techniques used on domesticated animals. One approach in particular, where animals are created by a cloning technique known as induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, is being developed with a view to saving mammals such as the highly-endangered northern white rhino, Professor Millar said.

“Our first priority is to preserve their environments, to conserve the species in situ. But if you happen to lose those environments you need to go to plan B, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to restore those environments sometime in the future and reintroduce animals,” Professor Millar said.

“We believe it is more do-able than we thought in the past. It would be good to do this as an insurance policy because you never know when there is going to be a calamitous decline.”

“The project has recruited expert embryologist Bill Ritchie, who created Dolly the sheep at the nearby Roslin Institute, as a special adviser.

http://www.BigCatRescue.org

Join more than 22,000 Big Cat Rescue fans http://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Cat-Rescue-Tampa-FL/122174836956?ref=ts


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Circus Life…”Captive” Entertainment

Next Post

Bobcat goes hunting in Connecticut backyard – photos

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Cub Petting Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

January 17, 2021
1.3k
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
98
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
384
Nik Tiger being Xrayed
How To Start A Sanctuary

What is a day like at Big Cat Rescue?

June 30, 2020
52
Cougars at Big Cat Rescue
Memorials

Artemis

January 28, 2020
195
Next Post

Bobcat goes hunting in Connecticut backyard - photos

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Take Action Against Abuse

Shop To Save Big Cats

More From BigCatRescue

  • Big Cat Rescue is Live 24/7 on Webcams
  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Big Cat Information

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Versioin
No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Embed Link
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Video Series
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • Test Gravity
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist