Colossal is extending its Bio Vault—a high‑security facility that stores tissues and reproductive cells from threatened wildlife—with a program to archive samples from every U.S. endangered species. The liquid‑nitrogen infrastructure will keep material viable for decades, while collected DNA will be sequenced into complete genomes. The initiative also adds a digital catalog linking each specimen to its genomic record.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will lead field collection, providing expertise to populate the archive and retaining control over how the biological materials are used. All genomic data generated will be deposited in open‑access repositories at no cost, giving researchers worldwide reference genomes, population‑level sequences and bioinformatic tools that no single agency could supply alone. Scientists can request raw reads for analyses, enhancing studies.

Open data access raises concerns about poaching and tribal sovereignty, so Colossal notes limits may apply when samples come from tribal lands or contain sensitive population information. By making the genomes publicly available, the partnership aims to accelerate recovery programs beyond what any private or governmental entity could achieve on its own, providing a concrete resource for conservationists now.