Did you know we're in the middle of a global biodiversity crisis? Scientists warn that more than one million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction 😔 As habitats shrink and climate pressures ramp up, conservationists around the world are racing to prevent irreversible loss.
At the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England, Cam Whitnall and his team care for some of the planet's most endangered big cats 🐯 From Sumatran tigers to Amur leopards, these iconic predators face dire threats in the wild. To boost their chances, the sanctuary recently teamed up with Nature's Safe, a UK-based conservation tech pioneer.
Nature's Safe has built the world's first "living biobank" in Shropshire: a high-tech vault storing genetic material – like tissue samples and reproductive cells – from over 300 species 🌍 When an animal reaches the end of its life, specialist teams collect and cryopreserve (that is, flash-freeze) its cells at around -196°C. This genetic snapshot could one day help revive vulnerable populations or strengthen their genetic diversity.
Founder Tullis Matson explains that this archive acts like a backup for biodiversity, safeguarding nature's code before it's too late. It's a cutting-edge blend of biology and technology, turning the tide in our fight against mass extinction.
From smartphone backups to genetic backups, this is conservation in the digital age 💾🧬 For young changemakers in South and Southeast Asia, it's a powerful reminder: innovation can help protect our planet's future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
