San Diego Zoo's Conservation and Research for Endangered Species

The San Diego Zoo's department of Conservation and Research for Endangered SpeciesCRESwas founded in 1975. Originally called the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, CRES is one of the largest zoo-based research centers in the world. Dedicated to preserving and protecting rare and endangered wildlife and their habitats, the research conducted at CRES is critical in the war against extinction. Through painstaking measures, CRES researchers gather scientific knowledge about the unique needs of wildlife, then translate this data into strategies to better manage the captive species while protecting populations in the wild. More than 75 highly trained CRES research professionals are dedicated to this missionto develop, gather, and increase knowledge vital for the establishment of self-sustaining populations of wildlife. Scientific research at CRES takes a variety of forms. From behavioral studies at the San Diego Zoo's SBC Giant Panda Research Station to banking endangered plant seeds at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park to high-tech genetic studies at the Frozen Zoo, CRES works to gain greater scientific insight and potentially solve the world's complicated conservation issues.