Big Cats and Other Beasts: the use of assisted reproductive technologies for the conservation of endangered carnivores

Chris is a Lecturer in Animal Genetics and Breeding in the Animal Science Group at Massey University. His expertise and research interests are in the fields of animal reproductive physiology, stress physiology and the effects of stress on the reproductive performance of animals, and the use assisted reproductive technologies in a conservation setting. Chris has a particular passion for enhancing the conservation value of captive carnivore populations through the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This presentation will discuss the value, current challenges, and future directions of ART for both the conservation of endangered carnivores. An emphasis will be placed on endangered felids (cat species), as this is where the majority of Chris’s research has focused to date.