Scientists have taken action to save France's feathered national emblem, le coq gaulois, by cryogenically preserving the endangered cockerel's sperm. Panic set in when it was disclosed that only 200 individuals remained, mostly owned by amateur breeders. The brightly coloured cockerel, one of France's oldest native animal species, is synonymous with French fighting spirit — at times arrogance — and is famously unleashed on to the football pitch before games involving the national side. Due to a semantic crossover, the Latin word gallus means both cockerel and Gaul and it has come to stand as a symbol of France's distant ancestors.
Scientists at the national agronomic research institute, Inra, have spent two years on a bird hunt for the last surviving individuals from the dying breed. They concluded that the safest way to avert its extinction was to create a "brave new bird world" by preserving the cockerel's genetic heritage using the latest cryogenic technology. "We took their eggs, vaccinated them, then brought up the chicks," said Elisabeth Blesbois, a scientist at Inra. "Then we removed their sperm and froze it at minus 196 degrees. We can now reconstitute the bird line if it encounters problems, such as an epidemic. By successive cross-breeding with regular hens, we can bring the race back from the brink in just a few years." Beside its symbolic qualities, the French cockerel is sought after for its brilliant red and gold plumage. But connoisseurs say its taste is disappointing.
absolutely no comment LOL |