Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest Journals. For more photos see the Zoo InternQuest Photo Journal.

In the middle of the Wild Animal Park’s field enclosure, we accompanied senior keeper Michele Gaffney on the back of her truck as we made close encounters with a wide variety of common and endangered animal species, including rhinos, giraffes, gazelles, and rare species of cattle. One species in particular that stood out from a conservation standpoint was the Javan banteng, a unique variety of cow.

Although the Javan banteng is endangered, it is lucky because of its close relationship with the common cow, which can serve as a surrogate species for research and reproduction. A number of years ago, the Genetics Division at CRES (Conservation and Research for Endangered Species) successfully cloned a Javan banteng using genetic material from a male that had died nearly 20 years earlier. Because this particular male was valuable in terms of genetic diversity, cells from his ear were kept in the Frozen Zoo and used in the cloning process. A dairy cow provided the egg and acted as the surrogate mother. Unfortunately, despite his healthy, masculine physique and nature, the cloned banteng has thus far been unable to produce offspring.

Researchers and scientists look forward to a time when cloning technology will be advanced enough to produce individuals that are not only physically healthy but also able to successfully reproduce. Because of this hope, veterinarians continue to collect cells from endangered species to keep in the Frozen Zoo. Perhaps one day, when the science of cloning has advanced to the point when animals can be cloned with confidence in their reproductive ability, we will be able to create individuals of these species. However, it is important to remember that cloning is a young science and not at all the ideal method of species conservation. We must continue to strive to protect the natural health and habitats of Earth’s many endangered species through education, Species Survival Plans (SSPs), and other techniques of preservation.

Veronica - Conservation Team

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