Research overview: interspecies embryo transfer in felids

Transferring embryos of a rare cat into a more common related species as surrogate offers a way to produce offspring without risking the endangered female. This overview surveys interspecies embryo transfer in felids, in which domestic cats or other species gestate embryos of wild cats such as the African wildcat. It reviews the biological compatibility required, the placental and immunological considerations, and the successes and limitations reported. The review connects interspecies transfer to cloning and genome banking as components of an integrated conservation toolkit. Understanding interspecies embryo transfer illustrates both the potential to leverage common species for conservation of rare ones and the technical constraints that have kept the approach experimental.