Authors: De Mori, Barbara;Pollastri, Ilaria;Spiriti, Maria Michela; Biasetti, Pierfrancesco ;Galli, Cesare;Goeritz, Frank;Hermes, Robert;Holtze, Susanne;Stejskal, Jan;Hildebrandt, Thomas B.;

Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) are a powerful tool for wildlife conservation, yet little attention is paid to their ethical evaluation. ART, however, pose ethical challenges related to animal welfare, safety of the people involved, quality of the procedures, and preservation of the biomaterial of endangered species. Lack of attention to the ethical assessment of the application of ART can compromise the acceptability of conservation projects with otherwise commendable goals. Here, we present an ethical self-assessment tool (ETHAS) designed for mammalian conservation breeding programs employing ART. ETHAS is designed from current regulations, veterinary and laboratory best practices, and scientific literature, and it is iteratively improved by experts in the fields. It consists of customizable checklists adaptable to the different ART procedures employed in conservation and used to assess their specific applications. It is currently employed in the complex efforts for conserving the Northern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), which make use of different ART, including transrectal ovum pick-up, in vitro fertilization via intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and embryo transfer. After briefly describing the tool, we present the results of its application. Consistent application of ETHAS helped to keep procedures under scrutiny, identify critical issues, and improve communication among partners.