INIA

The collaboration with the INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria) is directly carried out by several teams at the Madrid Zoo. Overall, the research project looks to develop reproduction techniques for threatened species and to dissemination the importance of these actions on the animal world.

In addition, part of the collaboration with INIA focuses on research aimed at optimizing different reproductive technologies. It studies their applicability to threatened species and seeks to develop knowledge about reproductive physiology of the species kept at the Zoo. Species like the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), and the dama gazelle (Nanger dama) benefit from this program.

CONTEXT

The INIA is an autonomous Research Public Organism (OPI), affiliated to the Research, Development and Innovation Secretary of State (“Secretaría de Estado de Investigación”), a part of the Ministry of Finance and Competitiveness. It is the only research public organism that depends on the General National Administration and is exclusively focused on agrarian, nutritional and forestry research.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the agreement between INIA and the Parques Reunidos Foundation are:

• Carrying out research related to the development of reproductive programs for threatened species,
• Participating in research and dissemination activities related to animal care,
• Studying how to obtain, study and cryopreserve sperm samples from different thereatened species, aiming at preserving them and researching their use as biological indicators showing environmental pollution and climate change.