Scientists at the Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) of the Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad have done the nation proud by producing a black buck through artificial insemination. This was done for the first time in the world as it was achieved through the non-invasive method. Earlier methods used the surgical intra-uterine insemination. Using that method, scientists have helped in the birth of the cheetah, leopard, puma, wild cat and deer. At CCMB, a spotted deer was given birth to using surgical insemination almost two years ago. However, wildlife biologists prefer the non-invasive method for obvious reasons. It is of particular interest in the case of endangered species like the black buck, locally called kala hiran, an antelope species.The lab now plans to use the method for saving other endangered species. On the cards are efforts to conserve vultures, Nicobar pigeons, and ultimately lions and tigers.
Even in humans, the success rate of pregnancy induced through artificial insemination is not very high. With animals it becomes even more difficult, given that the donor and recipient have to be coaxed. In this case, semen samples were collected from 10 males and three females were inseminated non-surgically. The success rate of pregnancy was 30 per cent which is being referred to as high for a first time. It means a lot of study of basic spermatology. Techniques that helped detect the mating period using ultrasonic scanning and injection of semen at the right time contributed to a large extent to the success rate. Studying the behavioural habits of animals is still not very accurate in predicting the heat period. The same team has had gruelling times collecting semen from  vultures using the manual massage method, requiring no less than five people for one vulture!
The dream of scientists at the lab is to clone the cheetah borrowing tissues or even a live animal from Iran where the last few cheetahs in the wild still survive. But the immediate need is for trained scientists. While cloning may seem to be the final solution to save some species, as also to increase the genetic diversity within species, there still are many associated problems. For now, it would make more sense to check the rampant poaching of the endangered species, as also preserve the natural biodiversity.