The ART of wild cat conservation

In this Virtual Field Talk, Dr. Lindsey Vansandt of CREW at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, will deliver her talk, The ART of Wild Cat Conservation.

Most of the world’s cat populations are declining in the wild due to habitat loss and degradation. Zoo-housed felids serve as assurance populations that can protect against species extinction and potentially allow reintroduction of zoo-born animals back into the wild. Within zoological institutions, there is a growing realization that assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including semen banking and artificial insemination, will be critical to ensure the viability of these populations, but differences in physiology necessitate the development of species-specific protocols.

For three decades, scientists at the Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) have been unraveling the mysteries of felid reproduction through basic, prospective, and systematic research. Findings from these studies have significantly advanced our understanding of felid reproductive biology, accelerated the development of effective ART, and facilitated the management of sustainable populations in zoos to complement in situ conservation efforts.

In this presentation, we’ll explore CREW’s ongoing research initiatives, highlighting milestones such as the historic birth of the first jaguar cub through ART and CREW’s pivotal role in safeguarding America’s last wild ocelots. Through these endeavors, CREW continues to push the boundaries of scientific understanding, paving the way for enhanced conservation strategies and preserving wild felid populations for future generations.

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Virtual Admission

• FREE
• 12:00 – 1:00 PM (EST) using Zoom webinar

No prior registration needed! Please click the link below to join the webinar or add this date to your calendar with the button above.

Join the webinar

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More about featured speaker, Dr. Lindsey Vansandt:

Dr. Lindsey Vansandt is Director of the Imperiled Cat Signature Project at the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. After graduating from the University of Missouri’s School of Veterinary Medicine, Lindsey spent a year at the Saint Louis Zoo performing a research internship. She then obtained a PhD in Animal Sciences at the University of Maryland in collaboration with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, studying spermatogonial stem cells and their applications in wildlife conservation. Lindsey joined CREW in the fall of 2014 and her research focuses on two main areas: applying assisted reproductive technologies for the propagation of wild felids and improving the health and welfare of free-roaming cats, including the development of non- surgical sterilants. Lindsey has produced the first sand cat kittens and jaguar cub ever born from artificial insemination and currently serves as the Reproductive Advisor for the sand cat, jaguar, and Amur leopard Species Survival Plans. Lindsey sits on the Michelson Prize and Grants in Reproductive Biology Program Scientific Advisory Board and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Reproductive Management Center Advisory Board. Additionally, she is the Medical Director of a non-profit small animal veterinary clinic that provides low-cost wellness services to low-income families.

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Questions? Contact our education team by phone at 443.552.5300 or email education@marylandzoo.org.