Cryogenic Preservation of Budgerigar Semen

Abstract

Popularity of pet birds has increased
tremendously in recent years,
resulting in the importation of large
numbers of birds, especially psittacines.
During this same time period,
there has been an unprecedented
increase in the rate of habitat destruction
in the tropics. The combination
of these two factors has caused a
decrease in the number of individuals
in many wild psittacine populations.
It would be very beneficial to find
ways of increasing the productivity of
captive birds and, simultanec usly,
increase their genetic diversity. Cryogenic
semen preservation is one way
of achieving these goals. A frozen 

sperm bank could ensure the maintenance
of a large degree of genetic
diversity, should individuals be lost,
and it is cheaper than maintaining
large, captive populations. A sperm
bank would also decrease the need to
import large numbers of individuals
and thus aid in maintaining wild
populations. A few individuals could
occasionally be captured to supply
" new blood" to the captive flock or,
if possible, semen samples could be
collected from individuals in the wild
instead of importing the birds.