Animal Preservation Efforts
Illumina x San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Partner for the Frozen Zoo®
Debra John — February 3, 2026
The Frozen Zoo®, established over 50 years ago by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, is the world’s most comprehensive biobank of living cells from threatened and endangered animal species. As biodiversity loss accelerates worldwide, the preservation of genetic material has become increasingly critical to maintaining ecological balance and protecting vulnerable ecosystems.
Against this backdrop, a partnership with Illumina will enable "the sequencing of up to 4,000 samples representing approximately 1,300 species." Through this effort, scientists will gain deeper insight into genetic diversity, population health, and adaptive capacity—key factors in strengthening species resilience and supporting ecosystem stability. These genomic insights will help guide evidence-based conservation strategies designed to mitigate environmental stressors.
In addition, a subset of samples will support multitopic research, further advancing understanding of wildlife health, evolutionary biology, and biodiversity preservation. Collectively, these efforts transform preserved biological material into actionable knowledge, reinforcing long-term ecological resilience and contributing to global environmental sustainability initiatives.
