We found this news story so heartwarming that we just had to share with you. It highlights the brilliance of a assisted reproductive technology for not only mankind, but for the animal kingdom too
Following the demise of the last male rhino in 2018 and with only two surviving females, the rhino is sadly considered functionally extinct, but there is a glimmer of hope…..could laboratory interventions revive the rhino population?
One prominent initiative in this domain is the international research consortium known as BioRescue, established in 2019 by a group of scientists and conservationists led by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research in Berlin, Germany.
Within one of its research branches, the BioRescue team harvests mature eggs, scientifically termed oocytes, from one of the remaining two northern white females located in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a privately managed wildlife sanctuary. These eggs are slated to be fertilised using frozen sperm obtained from various deceased northern white male rhinos.
The two surviving females, Najin and Fatu, are no longer capable of bearing offspring. Najin’s hind legs lack the strength to support a pregnancy, and Fatu experiences complications with her uterus. Consequently, the resulting embryos from the fertilised eggs will be transferred into surrogate mothers.
The most suitable surrogate mothers are southern white rhinos, given their close genetic relation. However, implanting a northern white rhino embryo into a southern white female rhino presents challenges. Encouragingly, in May 2023, two wild southern white rhinos were identified as suitable surrogates, capable of conceiving and carrying the pregnancy. Additionally, five more northern white embryos were introduced, bringing the total to 29.
The prospect of producing a new northern white rhino calf now appears more attainable than ever
While some may question the resources allocated to reviving a single species, the significance of the rhinoceros story extends beyond individual conservation efforts. The extinction of any species has profound implications for ecosystems, directly impacting human survival by affecting resources provided by the ecosystem. Rhinos, as iconic and majestic creatures, play a crucial role as flagships of conservation efforts.
Furthermore, collaborative endeavours focused on a specific species can yield scientific knowledge that informs a broader, multi-species conservation approach. These techniques not only hold the potential to rescue the northern white rhinoceros but also benefit other rhino species, their related ancestors, and various other creatures facing similar challenges.
