Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center

Founded: 1996

Full Time: 35

Volunteers: 9

Budget: 2,290,000

Director: Betsy L. Dresser, PhD
                14001 River Road
                New Orleans, LA 70131
                Telephone: (504) 398-3251 FAX: (504) 391-7707 E-Mail:

Research Areas:

The Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES), completed in 1996, is a 36,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art laboratory and exotic animal veterinary complex. It is located on the grounds of the 1,123-acre Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center. The ACRES research team consists of a select group of renowned reproductive scientists and several international postdoctoral fellows. The team is directed by Dr. Betsy Dresser, who is globally recognized for her work with in vitro fertilization, cryopreservation (freezing of genetic material) and embryo transfer with endangered species such as bongo antelope, gorillas, and exotic cats.

Areas of Expertise:

The mission of the Audubon Institute Center for Research of Endangered Species and the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center is to safeguard endangered plants and animals for future generations through innovative scientific programs that accelerate reproduction and preserve the earth’s genetic heritage. This mission is realized through:

… production of live offspring from endangered animals and propagation of endangered plants;

… reintroduction of captive-bred species into the wild whenever possible;

… attainment of free-living, stable and self-sustaining populations when possible;

… cooperation with organizations dedicated to preservation and re-establishment of critical habitats;

… development and maintenance of a genome resource bank (GRB) to conserve broad genetic representation of endangered plant and animal species; and

… collaboration with scientists and institutions throughout the world to preserve species through assisted reproduction technologies (ART) and use of global GRBs.

Animal Programs: Assisted reproduction programs, including interspecies embryo transfer, targeting some of the 23 smaller species of exotic felines. Additional animal programs include Mississippi sandhill cranes, whooping cranes, four forms of stork, Mexican gray wolves and California sea otters.

Frozen Zoo: Populated with cryopreserved material from exotic species, including sperm and embryos.

Formal alliances: University of New Orleans and Louisiana State University, to enhance research, attract scientific expertise, and enable dedicated graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to train at the Research and Survival Centers. Informal agreements are in place with other Louisiana universities and zoos nationwide. Research Center senior scientists serve as faculty at local institutions, providing essential education on conservation biology, while scientific and animal staff participate in the Species Survival Plans (SSPs) of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), sharing their knowledge and expertise at scientific and veterinary conferences around the world.

Cryopreservation Laboratory: Cryopreservation equipment includes five 5-canister liquid nitrogen storage tanks, two Cryo-Bath programmable freezers, a Cryo-Med programmable freezer, a Planner programmable freezer, a BioCool alcohol freezer, and a BCS 196 biological cryostage. Olympus laparoscopic camera equipment and electroejaculation equipment are also available.

Core Imaging Laboratory: Microscopes available include an Olympus BX 60 compound scope with fluorescence, a Zeiss Axiovert 135 M with Hoffman optics, an Olympus IX 70 inverted compound scope with Hoffman optics and fluorescence, a Nikon compound scope with fluorescence and dark field, a Nikon inverted compound scope with fluorescence, an Olympus inverted compound scope with fluorescence, and nine stereo microscopes. Microscope accessories include video monitoring and recording equipment, a Sony color video printer, and an Olympus PM-30 (slide-maker).

Veterinary Complex: The veterinary complex contains two surgical suites (one for small animals and one for large animals), isolation rooms, SPF animal facilities, a necropsy laboratory, and a wing of offices for the full-time veterinarian and her staff.

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