A WHITCHURCH biobank has announced it is launching a new partnership with a leading vulture conservation charity to help preserve species.

Nature's SAFE, founded by Tullis Matson, will be partnering with the Horstmann Trust which plays a big role in safeguarding vultures through research, breeding programs and reintroduction efforts.

The Whitchurch biobank has worked to save a number of different species by collecting, indefinitely storing and regenerating reproductive cells and cell lines from endangered animal species and is looking forward to working with the trust.

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Co-founder and vice chairman of Nature's SAFE Dr Sue Walker said: "With gene pools shrinking, cryopreservation is a critical piece of the conservation puzzle, providing a safeguard for the animals the world is currently on track to lose.

Whitchurch Herald: Nature's SAFE will work closely with the Horstmann Trust.Nature's SAFE will work closely with the Horstmann Trust. (Image: Nature's SAFE)

"Working with charities like The Horstmann Trust helps us to protect these amazing species for generations to come."

The Horstmann Trust is named after Manfred Horstmann who began to breed endangered vultures.

A Nature's SAFE's spokesperson said: "During the late 1970s, vulture enthusiast Manfred Horstmann began breeding endangered vultures with the long-term goal of preparing these species for release back into the wild.

"Manfred was the first person to breed several species of vulture in the UK, which helped the Trust build a unique collection of bearded vultures, hooded vultures, Egyptian vultures and Andean condors.

"The Horstmann Trust now plays a critical role in the global efforts of safeguarding vultures through research, breeding programs and reintroduction efforts.

"The work of Nature’s SAFE is perfectly positioned to assist the Horstmann Trust in the task of species preservation.

"As one of Europe’s first living biobanks, Nature’s SAFE freezes and stores live cells and cell lines from threatened species at a temperature of -196⁰C to safeguard their genetic diversity.

"Through state-of-the-art cryopreservation and assisted reproduction techniques, these cells can be stored for decades and then used to help restore healthy populations, providing a genetic lifeline to the vultures the Horstmann Trust are working so hard to save."

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The Horstmann Trust chief executive Adam Bloch was pleased to be partnering with the Whitchurch biobank.

He said: "70 per cent of the world’s vulture species are threatened with extinction and Horstmann Trust works with some of the most endangered of those.

"By partnering with Nature’s SAFE, we’re helping to ensure these vital birds have a future and provide a level of safeguarding we couldn’t achieve on our own."