NEW YORK (AP)—DNA samples from America’s endangered animal species are being added to a collection at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The frozen samples will provide researchers with genetic material to analyze and try to preserve the endangered species.

The museum’s scientists and curators and the U. S. National Park Service signed an agreement Tuesday establishing their partnership for the project.

Among the first DNA sub-missions to the museum were blood samples from foxes in California’s Channel Islands National Park. Coming soon will be samples from the American crocodile and the Hawaiian goose.

The Park Service lists 397 endangered species in 195 national parks.

The museum has allowed geneticists to use its frozen DNA sample collection free of charge since 2001.