Meet The 'Poo Zoo' Team Battling Animal Extinction One Dung At A Time

A lion at Chester ZooLast year, Professor Suzannah Williams began a project with a noble aim and a hilarious title: the Poo Zoo. The scheme, created with funding from conservation non-profit Revive and Restore, has partnered with Chester Zoo to optimise the care and protection we can offer the million-plus species at risk of extinction.More specifically, the experts want to help at-risk animals by using their dung. Dr Rhiannon Bolton, who’s researching the droppings of animals in the care of Chester Zoo, is at the forefront of the “game-changing” program. But how could excreta save the endangered?Dung samples have special legal and physical advantagesDr Bolton shared that current UK veterinary guidelines mean you can only collect genetic samples in very limited circumstances, which limits the samples that can be collected.But since Oxford University researchers, working with the Poo Zoo project, started trialling new ways to isolate, wash, and culture living animals cells to store them for conservation purposes, a whole new world of sampling has opened up.“It’s early days yet, but this would allow us to collect cells from a far broader range of animals than we currently can, both individuals within a species and in terms of different species,” she said. The Chester Zoo team are currently collecting samples from giraffe, okapi, and lions. The cells, if successfully extracted, could eventually become stem cells, which in turn can become egg and sperm cells used for conservation breeding. Dr Sue Walker, head of science at Chester Zoo, told HuffPost UK: “We know living cells are shed every time a bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian evacuates faecal matter.“They come from the gut walls and are carried out with the waste. The process involves sifting the waste to isolate and capture those cells.”She adds that the researchers’ work “is all about testing this process until it reliably yields cellular material that’s robust enough to store and use in conservation science”.The cells, which “would be banked just like a tissue sample,” have a unique benefit: “Faecal matter is readily available, and it can be collected without disturbing the animal.” In the case of the Poo Zoo, she continued: “The goal is to bank [washed cells] so they can be used to prevent extinctions.”Dr Rihannon Bolton collecting samplesThat’s not the only dung-based scheme the zoo runs Chester Zoo’s staff are used to dealing with dung; they have had an endocrinology programme where faecal samples are used to track animal health over the years.“There are parallels with human fertility science,” Dr Walker stated.Getting over fertility challenges or finding out an animal’s ability to conceive involves looking at their hormones, she shared.“You can measure oestrogen, progesterone and other hormones to find out where someone is in their fertility cycle, how compatible they are with potential partners and if they have successfully conceived.” The zoo has long used the same theory, “but we don’t take bloods. We use faecal samples, as it’s less invasive”.If you thought helping wildlife through stool samples was a load of crap, well, it seems you’re partly right...Related...This Is The Critical Point That Wildlife Photographers And Filmmakers Can Actually Intervene13 Incredible Wildlife Photos To Distract You From The World Today‘Stunning’ Wolf Discovery Caught On Wildlife Camera In Minnesota

Comments

Breaking news

Scottish-Japanese co-production the big winner at 2025 CATS

The Herald

I spent $120k on 14 plastic surgeries: These are the common procedures I regret... and one that stopped me closing my eyes for FIVE YEARS

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Cruel reason I'll never be able to get my dream boob job after near-death experience

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Albanian drug dealer who illegally sneaked back into Britain weeks after being deported succeeds in remaining in the UK by judge

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Moment Chelsea FC star Marc Cucurella is caught 'using his phone behind the wheel' of his £140k Mercedes G-Wagon

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Award-winning female sergeant caught drink driving after downing a bottle of wine while staying up late to do police work

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Two dead after car plunges 300ft off cliff at beauty spot 'as horrified holidaymakers watched on'

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Dressage rider left in a wheelchair after pack of dogs let off the lead by their walker spooked her horse wins £500k payout

about 1 hour ago

'One of Europe's best technicians' - why Man City want 'genius' Cherki

BBC News

Michelle Keegan flaunts her incredible figure in summer dresses just three months after welcoming daughter Palma as she enjoys Marbella holiday

about 2 hours ago

Disturbing secret history of woke LA mayor Karen Bass resurfaces amid immigration riots

Dailymail

Coronation Street legend hasn't aged a day as she poses with former co-star and her actress daughter - 22 years after soap exit

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Danny Boyle reveals how his daughter stopped traffic to create that infamous deserted scene in 28 Days Later

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

ABC News star SUSPENDED over late-night clash with Trump and top White House officials

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

Adolf Hitler's bigamist brother's womanising legacy in Britain revealed... and the UK street that is horrified at becoming a Nazi shrine

about 2 hours ago

Legendary actor who starred alongside Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman looks unrecognizable on rare outing

Dailymail

Comments

Similar News

BBC The Gold star Hugh Bonneville's tragic split from wife before meeting new girlfriend

Coleen Rooney's mercy mission to meet Ukrainian child victims of Putin's evil war

A teen lottery winner, a vodka boss and Glasgow's Carmela Soprano: Meet the gangsters' molls embroiled in Britain's deadliest gang war

Average age Brits meet their ‘best friend for life’ is revealed in new study

Kemi Badenoch says she refuses to meet burka-clad constituents as Tories back allowing bosses to ban female staff from wearing Islamic veils

'Let him grow' - Ronaldo and Yamal to meet on Sunday

More than nine of out ten of the Tory rank-and-file want Kemi Badenoch to purge 'wets' from the party in order to meet the challenge of Nigel Farage and Reform UK

Meet Ukraine’s special ops unit wiping out Putin’s war machine from bomber blitz to £3bn bridge… & what they’ll hit next

Novak Djokovic meets his match as Jannik Sinner seals first Grand Slam final against his great rival Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open

You can now bet on the next steps in the Trump-Musk fallout and when they will have their first meeting

Linda McMahon says Harvard and Columbia making ‘progress’ to meet Trump’s demands to stop antisemitism

U.S., Chinese officials to meet in London next week for new round of trade talks

White House officials to meet Chinese delegation in London for next round of trade talks

Trump's Hollywood Ambassador Jon Voight Meets with CA Gov. Gavin Newsom

China's Panchen Lama pledges loyalty to the Communist Party in a meeting with Xi

Boy, 16, struck and killed by Audi in horror CCTV was going to meet his dad

Reform-led councils in ‘paralysis’ as dozens of meetings cancelled in first weeks

Schoolboy pedestrian, 16, killed in fatal hit and run was 'going to meet father at shops' when he was mowed down by Audi that 'swerved towards e-bike riders'

Watch in full: Trump meets German leader in Oval Office

Nature campaigners in animal costumes take over council session for ‘inter-species democracy meeting’

Breaking news

Scottish-Japanese co-production the big winner at 2025 CATS

Price of Freddo increases yet again as popular chocolate suffers shrinkflation

Teenage boy killed in Manchester with local pub cordoned off

Trump calls Musk ‘big-time drug addict’ according to report, as feud shows no sign of ending

Two people dead after car leaves the road and plunges off cliff at world-famous coastal landmark

Harrowing new details revealed in autopsy report after grandma accused of murdering two grandsons in their rural home

Urgent hunt for missing woman, 44, last seen leaving pub as cops urge anyone who sees her to dial 999

Youngest Omaze winner selling £3m mansion just six months after big win

Raducanu says she's not 'playing for money' - as women tennis stars return to Queen's

BBC The Gold star Hugh Bonneville's tragic split from wife before meeting new girlfriend

Coleen Rooney's mercy mission to meet Ukrainian child victims of Putin's evil war

Alum Bay: Two dead as car plunges 300ft off cliff in beauty spot horror

National Guard arrives in LA following days of chaotic protests and looting over Trump ICE raids

I spent $120k on 14 plastic surgeries: These are the common procedures I regret... and one that stopped me closing my eyes for FIVE YEARS

Cruel reason I'll never be able to get my dream boob job after near-death experience

Albanian drug dealer who illegally sneaked back into Britain weeks after being deported succeeds in remaining in the UK by judge

Moment Chelsea FC star Marc Cucurella is caught 'using his phone behind the wheel' of his £140k Mercedes G-Wagon

Award-winning female sergeant caught drink driving after downing a bottle of wine while staying up late to do police work

Two dead after car plunges 300ft off cliff at beauty spot 'as horrified holidaymakers watched on'

Dressage rider left in a wheelchair after pack of dogs let off the lead by their walker spooked her horse wins £500k payout

'One of Europe's best technicians' - why Man City want 'genius' Cherki

Zurcher: Trump's intervention in LA may thrill his base but inflame tensions

BBC on the ground as National Guard set up in Los Angeles

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs Sickens Dozens

Trump’s Feud With Musk Highlights His View of Government Power: It’s Personal

Mum wants to change the law after ex killed her dog in house fire

Murder of Texas megachuch pastor Joel Osteen’s relative is back on the radar of investigators

ABC suspends reporter who interviewed Trump after devastating analysis of president – and Stephen Miller

'Not just a party:' World Pride celebrations end with defiant politics on display

Two men charged with murder after boy, 16, killed in ‘hit-and-run’ in Sheffield

‘Deranged’: Newsom and Hegseth trade insults as Defense Sec considers deploying Marines in LA

A runaway pet zebra has been captured in Tennessee

Brit sailor arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after ‘throwing girlfriend into river’ in Portugal

Captain arrested after boat bursts into flames in NYC forcing terrified passengers to leap into water and swim for lives

Two men charged with murder after boy, 16, who came to UK months ago ‘for a better future’ killed in ‘hit-and-run’ crash

Brit man dies while go-karting with his two children at largest outdoors track on Spanish holiday island

Woman who alleges Madeleine McCann suspect raped her at knifepoint 'fears' his release from prison

Bogota earthquake as huge 6.3 tremor causes chaos at Colombia tourist attraction

Bogota earthquake LIVE as huge 6.3 tremor sparks chaos at Colombia tourist attraction

Apply for 'Best job in Britain' - offering £10,000 worth of free holidays

Pontins holiday ruined by 'drunk parents and drugs everywhere' in nightmare Southport stay

British dad dies at Spain go-kart track in front of his heartbroken kids

One in 10 Brits have had the same best friend since they were 10 years old

Omaze's youngest ever winner sells glam £3million mansion at massively reduced price

DEAR JANE: My dad paid for my sister's boob job. I fear the two-word slur friends now say behind her back is true

West Ham star Michail Antonio releases footage of painstaking recovery journey after surviving horror car crash

Mass shooting at Ohio drag race leaves seven hospitalized

Michelle Keegan flaunts her incredible figure in summer dresses just three months after welcoming daughter Palma as she enjoys Marbella holiday

Disturbing secret history of woke LA mayor Karen Bass resurfaces amid immigration riots

Cadbury confirms it's discontinued much-loved biscuit treat after launching five years ago

'Bitcoin Family' take drastic measures to protect themselves amid crypto kidnappings

Coronation Street legend hasn't aged a day as she poses with former co-star and her actress daughter - 22 years after soap exit

Danny Boyle reveals how his daughter stopped traffic to create that infamous deserted scene in 28 Days Later

ABC News star SUSPENDED over late-night clash with Trump and top White House officials

Adolf Hitler's bigamist brother's womanising legacy in Britain revealed... and the UK street that is horrified at becoming a Nazi shrine

Legendary actor who starred alongside Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman looks unrecognizable on rare outing

Millionaire futurist creating 'mutant humans' reveals when new race will make ordinary people 'obsolete'