Good black-footed ferret news from the USA

This video from the USA says about itself:

Harsh Reality of Saving Endangered Ferrets

10 April 2015

Endangered black-footed ferrets that were born and raised in captivity must learn to hunt before they can be released into the wild on the American prairie. At a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conservation center in Colorado, ferrets go through a 30-day “preconditioning” period. That’s when they’re introduced to their primary prey in the wild: the prairie dog.

From Discovery News in the USA:

Black-Footed Ferrets Get a Boost: Photos

Aug 15, 2015 09:00 AM ET

Good News

On its Facebook page, the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) announced some exciting news about its work with endangered black-footed ferrets. SCBI “is first to provide empirical evidence that artificial insemination with long-stored spermatozoa is not only possible but also beneficial to the genetic diversity of an endangered species,” researchers wrote.

“What our scientists have done with the black-footed ferret shows how sperm preservation can benefit species recovery programs,” they added.

This means SCBI will be able to increase the number of black-footed ferrets under human care, while also enhancing genetic diversity within the species. Welcome news, as a loss of genetic variation can lead to malformed sperm and fewer successful pregnancies.

Good news in hand, let’s take a moment to appreciate the cuteness of the black-footed ferret in all its masked, dark-socked glory. Enjoy!