Two New Clones of Endangered Black-footed Ferrets Born

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the birth of two cloned black-footed ferrets, a significant step in conservation efforts.

Two endangered black-footed ferrets, Noreen and Antonia, were successfully cloned using genetic material from a ferret named Willa, frozen in the 1980s.
The cloning initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance the genetic diversity of the species, which is critical for its survival.
The black-footed ferret, one of North America's most endangered mammals, has seen its population drastically decline due to habitat loss and disease.
Conservationists aim to use the new clones in breeding programs to introduce new genetic variations into the population.
The clones were born at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and are reported to be healthy and developing normally.