Every year, thousands of species go extinct on account of human interference with their habitats. Between deforestation and hunting, these endangered animals stand no chance against potentially being permanently removed from Earth. The northern white rhino is a prime example of this; with only four known animals left on the planet, time is running out to find a solution. Fortunately, scientists may have found the perfect plan to help save these rhinos, as well as an abundance of other endangered species. Researchers at the University of Georgia have decided to make a “Frozen Zoo” to combat extinction. This ‘zoo’ will allow scientists to freeze animal skin cells with liquid nitrogen so they can be transformed into other cells and eventually create more animals at a later date.

When the scientists decide they need to assist the reproduction of an animal they have previously received cells from, they will convert the skin cells to stem cells, then ultimately make the stem cells into sperm and eggs. This process can be repeated multiple times and scientists believe the cells can last for hundreds of years when they are properly frozen. With these frozen animal cells biologists can scientifically breed endangered species at the Frozen Zoo, preventing them from being taken to zoos just to breed. As of early 2015, skin cells have been taken and frozen from northern white rhinos, a Sumatran tiger, and a clouded leopard. To continue saving endangered animals these researchers are taking donations from people around the world. Using the public’s contributions and not research grants from the government excites scientists because they are able to see how many people are actually interested in rescuing these animals from extinction. Hopefully these tiny cells kept in the Frozen Zoo will allow species on the brink of extinction to live on for centuries to come.