A look back at the RZSS Biobank in 2024
Posted 31 Mar 2025
The RZSS WildGenes Biobank has had another busy year with over 1,000 sample submissions, including 142 new biobank species, bringing our total number of species to 527!
Some of these new samples were from native British species, including pine marten, adder and two invertebrate species from Highland Wildlife Park's captive breeding programmes - the dark-bordered beauty moth and blood-red longhorn beetle.
New biobank species!
Of the 142 new species added in 2024:
- 36 reptile species including the critically endangered Baker's spiny-tailed lizard
- 18 fish species - more than doubling the number of aquatic species in our biobank
- 16 new amphibian species including the critically endangered Lake Oku clawed frog and our first caecilians
Biobank news
This year EAZA released a position statement on the use of cryopreserved materials and biotechnology. The statement outlines EAZA’s support for the use of cryopreservation and cryopreserved materials as a conservation tool for safeguarding biodiversity and ensuring species survival.
Find out more
Biobank engagement
In 2024 we spread the biobank message at a number of scientific conferences and conservation meetings, including:
- World Congress of Herpetology
- JTAG TAG Chairs meeting
- BIAZA Conservation Conference
EAZA biobank super-submitters
Earlier this year EAZA announced the 2023 Biobank super-submitters. Congratulations to Zoological Society of London, Wingham Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo.
It has been an amazing year in our biobank and we are already off to a great start for 2025.
Find out more about the RZSS Biobank
