Research overview: frozen zoos and genome resource banking for felids

Genome resource banks, sometimes called frozen zoos, store gametes, embryos, and cells from felids to preserve genetic diversity for future use. This overview surveys the concept and practice of biobanking in cat conservation, including the collection and cryopreservation of sperm, oocytes, embryos, and somatic tissues from individuals across managed populations. It reviews how banked material can reintroduce lost genetics, support assisted reproduction, and serve research, and how banking is coordinated with studbooks. The review connects biobanking to long-term strategies for maintaining genetic health in small populations. Understanding genome resource banking is fundamental to modern felid conservation, providing a living archive that can offset the gradual erosion of diversity over generations.