PRESS RELEASES

TORONTO, ON, Friday, October 10, 2025 - In a bold step for global wildlife conservation, Toronto Zoo (Canada), Chester Zoo (United Kingdom) and Dublin Zoo (Ireland) announced a strategic partnership to expand efforts in wildlife cryobanking. This announcement was made at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress held every four years. This collaborative initiative aims to safeguard the living genetic material of both native and globally threatened species, strengthening future conservation and restoration efforts worldwide.

Pictured from left to right: Dolf DeJong, Dr Sue Walker and Dr Andrew Mooney

Live cell cryobanking involves preserving genetic material, such as sperm, oocytes (eggs), embryos, tissue, and cultured cells, from animals. When stored in ultra-low temperatures, cells can remain viable for decades, allowing conservationists to support future breeding programs by maintaining or restoring genetic diversity. Unlike sample storage for DNA, live cell cryobanking can be used in assisted reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. These approaches are especially valuable for declining populations at risk of inbreeding due to small size or isolation.

The multi-zoo alliance will focus on sharing best practices, enhancing cryopreservation techniques across species, and coordinating regional and international efforts. The partnership also aligns with broader global initiatives, including the IUCN Animal Biobanking for Conservation Specialist Group. Additionally, the zoos will work together to raise awareness of the potential of wildlife cryobanking amongst conservationists, academic researchers, and the public.

These three leading zoos strongly believe conservation doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s most successfully achieved through partnerships, by working together, supporting each other and striving toward shared goals. This agreement is a tangible example of what the zoo community can contribute to conservation science, and we believe that the field will only become more collaborative in future. This partnership reflects the growing role of accredited zoos as conservation leaders and showcases how innovation and collaboration can drive solutions to the planet’s most pressing biodiversity challenges. This unified effort signals a major leap forward in preserving Earth’s biodiversity, ensuring that critical genetic material is accessible for research, restoration, and resilience now and for generations to come.

About Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo’s mission is to connect people, animals, conservation science and traditional knowledge to fight extinction and our vision is a world where people, wildlife and wild spaces thrive.

An iconic tourist attraction and Conservation organization, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day including December 25 and attracts approximately 1.3 million guests each year.

Toronto Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo has also achieved the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Certificate of Good Animal Practice® and is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA).

About Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo is a world-leading conservation zoo. Founded by the Mottershead family, it welcomed its first visitors on 10 June 1931. Three years later, it was registered as a non-profit organisation to be run as a charitable educational, conservation and scientific institution. What began as a family run zoo has since grown into a globally renowned wildlife charity and a national zoo, welcoming more than two million visitors a year and 165,000 members, all helping to provide funds for its conservation mission. Voted the best zoo in the UK by TripAdvisor, the zoo’s 130-acre site in Chester, which is home to around 30,000 animals, is where its species-saving work is made possible. The zoo is key part of 139 international conservation breeding programmes and works with 62 conservation partners in 19 countries to protect wildlife, habitats and people. Experts from the zoo are recognised by governments and NGOs across the world as leaders within the global conservation community.

About Dublin Zoo

Dublin Zoo is a not-for-profit organisation, registered charity number 20003715. Since Dublin Zoo first opened its doors in 1831, it has been transformed with the support of the Irish public and now attracts over 1 million visitors a year. All funds received by Dublin Zoo including tickets, donations and sponsorships are directly invested in the day-to-day management, running and upkeep of Dublin Zoo’s animals, their habitats and conservation projects. Modern Zoos, like Dublin Zoo, adhere to strict codes of practice in animal welfare laid down by European and Global Associations. Animals at Dublin Zoo, therefore, live enriched lives in natural social groups in order to encourage breeding and raising young. Dublin Zoo is managed by caring, qualified and accredited zoo professionals who devote their lives to the welfare of animals at Dublin Zoo. Dublin Zoo's purpose is to save wildlife and inspire a passion for nature – one person, one family at a time. This is achieved by providing world-class animal care, participating in 30 international conservation and breeding programmes for endangered species, and educating visitors on the importance of the natural world.