Professor Suzannah Williams and her team at Oxford University are turning animal feces into a powerful tool for conservation. With global biodiversity declining-wildlife populations have dropped by 73% between 1970 and 2020-her project, dubbed the “Poo Zoo,” aims to non-invasively extract living cells from animal dung for genetic analysis.

Traditionally, collecting DNA from wild animals requires stressful and invasive procedures like tissue biopsies. The Poo Zoo offers a gentler alternative by isolating cells shed from the intestines during defecation. These cells contain DNA and can provide insights into genetic diversity, reproductive health, and even potential for artificial reproduction.

Funded by conservation group Revive and Restore, the team began testing on mouse droppings and later moved on to elephant dung, partnering with Chester Zoo for fresh samples. Though isolating clean cells from feces is a major challenge due to bacterial contamination, their refined technique has yielded successful extractions multiple times.

The long-term goal is to contribute to biobanking-storing genetic material to help preserve endangered species. While some scientists are skeptical about the use of fecal-derived cells for creating embryos due to contamination concerns, Williams believes it can still greatly support conservation by expanding access to genetic data from elusive wildlife.Chester Zoo collects fecal samples for analysis, to gather information on an animal’s health, such as hormones and pregnancy status. Chester Zoo

With biodiversity loss accelerating, the Poo Zoo provides a scalable, non-invasive method to gather vital genetic information. Williams and her team hope to adapt this technique for more species, helping maintain genetic diversity and increase species' resilience to disease and climate change.

“If I didn't have to do this work, I wouldn't,” says Williams. “But the reality of extinction demands it.”