Abstract

Ocean Park’s veterinary team has a long record of collection and processing semen of cetaceans and pandas. In the last 3 years we have directed resources towards collection of elasmobranch semen. This paper presents lessons learned from semen collection from various species of rays and sharks, as well as progress made in the assessment, processing, and preservation of semen: fresh, chilled, or frozen. The ability to collect elasmobranch semen and the relative stability of elasmobranch semen opens a number of possibilities for the captive management and the conservation of elasmobranchs, including semen exchange between remote facilities, collection of semen in situ from wild specimens, and increasing heterozygosity.

* Presenting author