Create baby elephants from frozen sperm

Biologists at the zoo in Schoenbrunn, Vienna (Austria) have succeeded in artificial insemination for female elephants from frozen sperm of a wild African elephant.

Zoo director Schoenbrunn, Austria - Dagmar Schratter, announced the ultrasound image
of female elephants fertilized artificially by frozen sperm of wild African elephants

Currently the female elephant is nine months pregnant and gives birth in 13 months. Biologists have had an ultrasound scan and said it developed the body and legs, although gender is still unknown.

The fertilized sperm is taken from a wild South African male by using ejaculation to ejaculate, then freezing sperm and bringing fertilization to female elephants at Schoenbrunn zoo.

Schoenbrunn Zoo said that they have successfully fertilized 40 elephants at zoos throughout Europe since 1998, but this is the first time they have successfully fertilized from frozen sperm.

According to Thomas Hildebrandt - of the Leibniz Institute for Research and Development of Frozen Techniques: 'Mammalian sperm are very sensitive to temperature changes. So it is difficult to use for artificial insemination, especially for elephants. '

This success is significant for biologists in extending the gene for African elephants capturing and maintaining their breed.

Reference: BBC