In a tiny tank, researchers at Sydney Aquarium gently roll a black-and-cream leopard shark onto her back, causing her to reach a hypnotic-like state of rest.
In an effort to increase their numbers globally, the shark, named Zimba, is among the first captive leopard sharks in history to be artificially inseminated with wild shark sperm.
In the event that the procedure is successful, Zimba’s shark pups will be sent to Indonesia’s Raja Ampat region, where habitat deterioration and unsustainable fishing methods are threatening to wipe out the native population.
According to Laura Simmons, regional coordinator for SEA LIFE Australia and New Zealand, artificial insemination enables sharks that would not often interact to breed and enhance genetic diversity.
A “genetically viable and capable of maintaining a self-sustaining population in the wild” is Simmons’ ultimate goal for the leopard shark population.
“This is one step closer to where we need to be,” she told AFP, adding that it might take years.
The process is a component of StAR, a global leopard shark breeding effort that includes over 60 conservation organizations, aquariums, and governmental organizations.
Globally, about 37 percent of oceanic shark and ray species, including the leopard shark, are now listed as either endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a global database for threatened species.
