Wildlife Cryopreservation

At CK Supply, we believe that meaningful partnerships can create measurable impact not just for our industry, but for the planet as a whole. That’s why we’re proud to partner with the Saint Louis Zoo, supporting their world-class conservation science efforts through cryopreservation with a critical resource: liquid nitrogen.

Preserving the Future: What Is Cryopreservation?

Cryopreservation is a scientific process in which biological materials like sperm, eggs, and tissue are stored at ultra-low temperatures using liquid nitrogen. This “deep freeze” halts cellular activity and preserves genetic material indefinitely, even beyond an animal’s lifespan making it a powerful tool in long-term conservation planning. 

A Lifeline for Mexican Gray Wolves

The Mexican Gray Wolf once roamed widely across the Southwest United States and Mexico. Due to habitat loss and persecution, the species disappeared from the wild in the U.S. by the 1970s, leaving only a handful of individuals in captivity. 

To combat this loss, the Saint Louis Zoo has maintained a frozen semen bank as part of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program and the AZA Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan since 1991.  Over time, this bio-bank has expanded. In 2005, the Zoom, in collaboration with the Infertility Center of Saint Louis, became the first institution to apply vitrification techniques to a wild species, preserving not just sperm but also eggs and ovarian tissues from Mexican Gray Wolves for future use. 

These frozen genetic materials allow scientists to manage breeding across institutions and generations, maintaining diversity and resilience in a population that began with only a few founding individuals. 

Why Genetic Preservation Matters

Genetic diversity is more than a scientific buzzword, it’s vital for the health and sustainability of a species. Low genetic variability can lead to increased disease susceptibility, reproductive challenges, and reduced adaptability to environmental change. By preserving frozen sperm, eggs, and ovarian tissue, researchers can:

• Enable breeding between animals in different facilities, without transporting the wolves themselves. 

• Utilize valuable genes from individuals long after they’ve passed. 

• Support future reproductive technologies like artificial insemination and, eventually, in vitro fertilization. 

In fact, genetic material stored through the Zoo’s cryopreservation program has helped produce Mexican Gray Wolf pups through advanced reproductive techniques, demonstrating how cryopreserved resources directly translate into conservation success. 

CK Supply’s Role in This Work

This critical cryopreservation work depends on a simple but essential component: liquid nitrogen.

Liquid nitrogen provides the consistently ultra-low temperatures needed to keep genetic materials stable for years, even decades. CK Supply is proud to provide the liquid nitrogen that helps sustain these gene banks and enables scientists to safeguard Mexican Gray Wolf genetics for future use.

Partnership for Purpose

At CK Supply, we see our contribution as more than a delivery, it’s part of a shared mission to support scientific innovation and real conservation outcomes. From industrial applications to wildlife preservation, we’re honored to serve organizations that are shaping a more sustainable future.

We’re inspired by the Saint Louis Zoo’s leadership in reproductive science and proud to play a small role in the solution.

Read more on Saint Louis Zoo’s Cryopreservation program by checking out their site: https://stlzoo.org/conservation/reproductive-sciences/cryopreservation