NewsSan Diego Business JournalSeptember 14, 2026San Diego County
Marlys Houck Recalls Genetic Sampling Following the Death of the Last Male Po‘ouli Bird in 2004
Photo: San Diego Business Journal
Following the 2004 death of the last male po‘ouli bird in managed care, Marlys Houck received a call to collect genetic samples during a limited post-mortem window.
Read the full story at San Diego Business JournalWhy It Matters
The article highlights the preservation efforts and the critical timing required to collect genetic material from extinct or endangered species.
Key Facts
- The last male bird of the Hawaiian po‘ouli species died under managed care at a facility in Kaua‘i during Thanksgiving weekend of 2004.
- Marlys Houck received an important career call during that weekend to collect genetic samples within a very short post-mortem window.
Who's Mentioned
locationPeru“Pilot site for the biobanking initiative”PersonMarlys Houck“Curator of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's Frozen Zoo”locationKenya“Pilot site for the biobanking initiative”OrganizationSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance“Organization operating the Frozen Zoo and global biobanking initiative”locationKaua‘i“Location where the last male po‘ouli bird died”PersonKurt Benirschke“Frozen Zoo founder”locationESCONDIDO“Dateline or location context for the article.”locationVietnam“Pilot site for the biobanking initiative”OrganizationMinistry of the Environment in Peru“Signed a memorandum of understanding with SDZWA-Peru”locationEscondido“Location of the Beckman Center for Conservation Research”locationHawai‘i“Pilot site for the biobanking initiative”PersonKatie Heineman“Program officer for CSS and biobanking at SDZWA”OrganizationInternational Union for Conservation of Nature“Partner in the Center for Species Survival Biodiversity Banking”PersonArlene Kumamoto“Inaugural Frozen Zoo curator”