The role of emerging assisted reproductive technologies in the conservation of neotropical wild mammals - challenges, advances and perspectives.

Threats to global biodiversity are growing rapidly, driven primarily by anthropogenic factors, especially in the Neotropical region. Given this scenario, improving assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) and developing genetic resource banks for wildlife addresses the need for new conservation strategies. Although ARTs were developed in domestic animals, traditional technologies such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer play important roles in animal species conservation. Furthermore, approaches that include more sophisticated technologies, such as somatic cell nuclear transfer, and germ cell culture or transplant, are explored to address issues. However, challenges still hinder technological advances, delaying the applications of ARTs to wild animal species, especially for Neotropical mammals. While they are not the sole solution to prevent extinction, ARTs are invaluable tools for supporting genetic management over time and the conservation of critically endangered animals. This review aims to analyze the current landscape of emerging ARTs in Neotropical wild mammalian species, emphasizing the progresses in conventional ARTs as well as the role of more advanced ARTs for conservation. Additionally, the objective is to highlight the main results obtained and discuss the perspectives for the effective development and implementation of ARTs within conservation efforts.