In a monumental breakthrough for conservation efforts, scientists have achieved the world’s first in-vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy for rhinos, raising optimism about saving the northern white rhino from extinction. With only two individuals remaining on Earth, both females, the success of this groundbreaking procedure is crucial for the survival of the species.
The pioneering IVF rhino pregnancy involved transferring a laboratory-created rhino embryo into a surrogate mother, utilizing southern white rhinos—a closely related sub-species of the northern whites. The successful outcome has propelled scientists to pursue the next phase: replicating the procedure with northern white rhino embryos.
Susanne Holtze, a scientist at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Germany, part of the international Biorescue project, expressed the significance of this achievement, stating, “To achieve the first successful embryo transfer in a rhino is a huge step.” The Biorescue project aims to save the northern white rhino species from extinction.
Once widespread across central Africa, the northern white rhinos fell victim to illegal poaching, driven by the demand for rhino horns, leading to the extinction of the wild population. The surviving individuals, Najin and her daughter Fatu, reside under tight security at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
The Biorescue team embarked on the ambitious task of utilizing southern white rhinos, a conservation success story with a population numbering in the thousands, to perfect the IVF procedure. Overcoming numerous challenges, including the collection of eggs from these massive animals and creating rhino embryos in a lab, the team achieved success after 13 attempts.
While the success brought hope, tragedy followed as the surrogate mother succumbed to infection 70 days into the pregnancy. Despite the loss, the post-mortem revealed the developing male foetus had a 95% chance of being born alive, confirming the viability of rhino IVF.
Now, the focus turns to northern white rhino embryos, with only 30 in existence. Stored in liquid nitrogen in Germany and Italy, these embryos were created using eggs from Fatu and sperm from two deceased male northern white rhinos. The birth of a northern white calf requires implanting the embryo into a surrogate southern white rhino—a scientific first.
The Biorescue team is confident in their approach, aiming to preserve the social heritage of the northern white rhinos by having the first calf born while some of these majestic creatures are still alive. Simultaneously, the team is exploring experimental techniques, including creating rhino sperm and eggs from stem cells, to enhance genetic diversity and ensure the long-term survival of the species.
While some critics argue about the allocation of resources, the Biorescue team emphasizes the human responsibility to rectify the consequences of human-driven factors, such as poaching. The northern white rhino’s plight is attributed to human activities, particularly the greed for rhino horns, making conservation efforts imperative.
Jan Stejskal, BioRescue project coordinator, stressed the responsibility to utilize available techniques to save the species. Samuel Mutisya, head of research and species conservation at Ol Pejeta, emphasized the critical role of the northern white rhino in the ecosystem, emphasizing the commitment to nurture, protect, and recover the species. The success of IVF for rhinos represents a beacon of hope for species on the brink of extinction.
