In a desperate effort to bring the northern white rhino subspecies back from the very edge of extinction, scientists in Berlin have successfully created the world’s first ever test tube rhino embryo, using DNA from deceased males.
There are only two female northern white rhinos left in the world and both are unable to reproduce. The last male of the subspecies, Sudan, died in March.
The team of researchers are in a race against time to perfect their assisted reproduction techniques (ART). This first step to success was achieved by injecting stored northern white rhino (NWR) sperm – which has been collected from three males over the years – into southern white rhino eggs – extracted from female rhinos in captivity.
Following the success of this first stage, the scientists have requested permission to take eggs from the last two NWR, Najin and Fatu, currently protected in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. They hope to complete this procedure by the end of the year.
Until then, the team will continue to refine their techniques, moving ahead to implant some of these now frozen embryos into southern white rhino surrogate mothers — they will follow the same procedure for any full NWR embryos in future. Once the offspring are born, they will be introduced to Najin and Fatu to socialize and grow up as part of a NWR herd.
“Our goal is to have in three years the first NWR calf born,” said Thomas Hildebrandt, head of reproduction management at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin. “It is a motivating aspect to succeed as soon as possible so the calf that we produce can grow up with Najin and Fatu.”
Scientists and conservationists hope not to only save this subspecies from extinction, but also to release herds back into the wild in the future.
None of this is without extreme complications and challenges. The procedure to take eggs from Najin and Fatu will require them to undergo anesthesia — a risky and somewhat terrifying proposition, considering they are the last two of this subspecies alive.
“We are highly afraid that something unexpected may happen during the procedure which is related to the heart or something else — that would be a nightmare,” said Hildebrandt.
Both Najin and Fatu are daughter and granddaughter of Sudan, leaving only sperm samples from two other males to use. This means any population produced using this limited genetic material will be highly inbred. Researchers are looking at increasingly innovative methods to improve genetic diversity, such as using skin cells from unrelated white rhinos (already deceased) to make new sperm and eggs.
On top of all these challenges, the stored sperm they have available is in very limited amounts, and poor quality, with low motility rates.
Although fighting an uphill battle and facing grim odds, the technology developed during this process is still groundbreaking and could pave the way to save other highly endangered species in the future.
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I agree with LOLLI. What is the point of all of this to repopulate and release the species back into the wild? SO THAT THEY CAN BE SLAUGHTERED AGAIN WHEN WE CANNOT PROTECT THE WILD ONES?
STOP STOP STOP! LEAVE ANIMALS ALONE FOOLS
This could make such a difference.
Hopeful
I hope this works. Not to use a la Jurassic Park, but to preserve the species that the Trump Organization is committed to killing off. Every wild animal, in other words.
Why was nothing done when there was still time? Too little too late.
no extintion
That is not the answer! Should we give new individuals life just so that they could be killed and poached??? When we cant grant the securty of the ones living in the wild now, what makes us think we can avoid these new lives from being killed???? Should we bread rhinos so that more can be killed, WTH!! The answer is simple – stop killing them! To achieve this, an imedate implant of death penalty should be put in place on poachers and on every person who deal with any kind of trade or buing of rhino parts worldwide, no matter country of origin. A total ban of hunting and death penalty for those who hunt or organize any kind of hunting of rhinos. This should have been done a long time ago, even if it might be too late now it is still not done!, so what are they waiting for?
I sincerely hope this works.
The “authorities” have allowed, and are still allowing (either through little interest/lax enforcement, or selling out for big bucks), the killing of these creatures, and then the vivisectors in the laboratories (who do everything to animals within the spectrum, from manipulation to all-out torture) take over and put more of them here. Most people still bow and scrape, and kneel before the people in the white coats, and by approving and applauding their manipulations, they also let them get away with their tortures.
What is the point of resurrecting these rhinos? To release them back into the wild so they will be slaughtered by poachers for their ivory just like their slaughtered brethren? Leave them alone let them stay extinct. Sadly this is the only way to stop poaching & endless slaughter. And I am an animal lover especially the African big five!
It should nave not come to this-but it is now our only hope
It is horrible and doesn’t say much about the human species, that such a beautiful creature has been reduce to two in the entire world. What is wrong with us? I hope and pray that these scientists can be successful in their endeavors but it should never have to come to this. Stop killing every living species for sport and greed.
Hope it works, Thank you ! Hope white rhinos have a come back. Stop all poachers.
This has to stop —Now !
En fait, c’est trop triste pour des mots. Seulement par l’avidité et la soif de meurtre de “l’homme”.
Great news.
Bravo! Hope it works!
It’s fantastic wat they can do now a days I think that’s great news and I really hope that they can get the white rhinos back and keep them safe