For the first time ever, scientists have successfully cloned an endangered animal native to the United States: the black-footed ferret. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) teamed up with other groups on the project.
The clone, named Elizabeth Ann, was created from frozen cells of a wild black-footed ferret that died decades ago. Elizabeth Ann is an identical genetic copy of that ferret—and a potential ray of hope for a struggling species.
Black-footed ferrets once lived throughout the American West, but their populations declined in the 20th century. One reason: Farmers and ranchers killed the animals’ main source of food, prairie dogs, to protect their land. The ferrets were thought to be extinct by the mid-1970s. Then, in 1981, black-footed ferrets were discovered in Wyoming. They became part of a captive breeding program, then their offspring were reintroduced in several states. Today, 400 to 500 black-footed ferrets exist in the wild.
But those ferrets are all closely related. That means they share many of the same genes. A lack of genetic diversity in populations increases the risk of health issues and diseases. Experts hope Elizabeth Ann’s descendants will help boost the diversity of wild ferret genes. Preserving ferret habitats is also key to the animals’ survival, the USFWS says.
The first time a mammal was cloned was in 1996. Since then, other animals have also been cloned, including dogs and horses. Conservationists hope the technology can be used to help prevent more wildlife extinctions.