In The Frozen Zoo, Producer Patricia Baker explores the story of a 21st Century Noah’s Ark: The Frozen Ark, which aims to preserve the DNA of all the endangered animals in the world…
Scientists estimate that there are almost 9 million species living on earth today. To put that into perspective, mankind is only one species out of that 9 million. It is this incredible diversity of life that makes our planet so beautiful. However we have to recognise that this beauty is fragile. The planet is losing species at an extinction rate of 1% per year, which means, that in the next thirty years, more than 30% of all animals will become extinct.
“Current rates of extinction are about 100 times greater than what you would normally expect and this rate of extinction is expected to rise ….. Many scientists would call this the 6th mass extinction event…... The mass extinction event most people would recognise is when the dinosaurs went extinct and the rate of loss at the moment is comparable to that time”.
Sandra Molloy, Registrar /Research and Conservation Coordinator, Dublin Zoo
The Frozen Zoo tells the fascinating story of the Frozen Ark, a project that aims to preserve the DNA of the world's endangered species. This is the 21st Century Noah’s Ark. As part of the radio documentary we will meet with Ann Clarke who set up the Frozen Ark along with her husband Brian. The Clarke’s were driven by a desire to use their knowledge and experience to save our planet’s animal diversity from disaster. This elderly couple were passionately motivated by one single ideal; to save the beauty of nature.
Dublin Zoo is a key member of the Frozen Ark. We will take a walk with Zookeeper Susan O’Brien to hear first-hand about the animals that are at risk of extinction. Dublin Zoo’s vet John Bainbridge will explain how DNA is taken from the animals and Conservationist Sandra Molloy will explain why the Frozen Ark is so important. We will also meet with Professor Emma Teeling who talks us through the process of extracting and freezing DNA samples. And finally, we will try and discover the future potential and exciting possibilities of being custodians of the Frozen Ark.
‘The Frozen Zoo’ was broadcast on Newstalk 106-108fm on Saturday 7th February at 7am, and repeated at 10am on Sunday 8th February.
CREDITS: The Frozen Zoo is a Curious Broadcast production, produced and narrated by Patricia Baker , final mix by Gerry Horan of Contact Studio and Funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, with the Television License Fee
BROADCAST DETAILS: ‘The Frozen Zoo’ and can be listened to live online at www.newstalk.com. Podcast available at: www.newstalk.com/documentaryonnewstalk after the broadcast.
Further quotes from The Frozen Zoo.
“I can imagine scientists of the future presuming that it is routine that you would have a Frozen Ark….What is really sad is that it is necessary in the first place” –
Nigel Monaghan: Keeper, Natural History Museum Dublin
“All you have to do is freeze the DNA and let future generations decide what to do with it – that is the simplest thing I can say about the ark”
Dr Anne Clarke: Founding Director of the Frozen Ark
The idea of the Frozen Ark is to try and protect and maintain the integrity of diversity that once was there, that is currently here now, to try and potentially mitigate the effects that man has had on the planet. This is our safe guard, that we leave a little bit of DNA behind to try and understand how these species evolved to live in this environment. This is the idea of the Frozen Ark to keep a catalogue of the DNA, the blue print that makes up life as we see it right now
Prof Emma Teeling: Director of Centre of Irish Bat Research UCD
