Hi,

Thought I'd share this email I received yesterday from Dr. Howard, DVM,
Ph.D., Theriogenologist, Department of Reproductive Sciences at the
research facility:

Hello,
We are very excited about this new kit. It was produced by artificial
insemination with frozen sperm (frozen over 10 yrs ago)!

We are watching closely to see if this single kit is OK. We have had
black-footed ferret raise one kit without problems. We had another kit
born today (singleton also), so we have an option of cross-fostering
if we need to.

Thanks for your interest.

Dr. JoGayle Howard


Some background on Dr. Howard:
Howard led the first-ever study to demonstrate the value of artificial
insemination as a tool for helping recover and reintroduce an
endangered species (the black-footed ferret) back to nature. She has
produced more than 130 black-footed ferrets by artificial insemination
from individuals that failed to reproduce. She also initiated a
multi-disciplinary program to conduct a Biomedical Survey of Wild
Black-Footed Ferrets to assess health, disease, reproduction,
immunology, and genetics of reintroduced populations in the North
American grasslands ecosystem.

Howard is active in the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group of
the IUCN-World Conservation Union, the Felid Taxon Advisory Group,
and numerous Species Survival Plans of the American Zoo and Aquarium
Association. She holds adjunct appointments at the University of
Maryland and George Mason University. Howard has more than 100
publications in peer-reviewed journals and books.

Tressie A. Dutchyn, PhD (c)
Dalhousie University 
Research Project Coordinator
Community Health & Epidemiology 
 
http://port.mcgill.ca/dutchyn.htm

[Posted in FML 6010]