The world’s first white rhino IVF pregnancy offers a glimmer of hope for saving this species, which is on the brink of extinction.
The Northern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) is one of two remaining subspecies of white rhino on Earth. Unfortunately, only two females of this subspecies remain. This means that upon the death of these two females, the Northern White Rhinoceros will be lost to the world forever.
Scientists are taking every possible step to prevent this extinction. Late last year, in a groundbreaking move to prevent the extinction of the Northern White Rhino, scientists achieved the first successful in-vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy using a surrogate from the other white rhino subspecies, the Southern White Rhino.
In this research, conducted on September 24, 2023, by a team of scientists from the German-based BioRescue project, an embryo created in a laboratory at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya was used. This embryo was created using sperm collected and preserved from the last living male Northern White Rhinos and eggs retrieved from the younger of the two remaining females. The embryo was implanted in a Southern White Rhino female, and the researchers reported that the pregnancy lasted successfully for 70 days, with the embryo developing well into a 6.4 cm long male.
Unfortunately, the surrogate mother and the unborn calf died due to a bacterial infection. It was identified as Clostridium, a soil-borne bacterium that can be fatal to animals, and scientists believe the bacteria was released from a nearby muddy landslide. Although a rhino calf could not be born this time, scientists are pleased to announce that the “potential” of the technology used in the experiment has been confirmed. Their next step is to implant several embryos created from eggs retrieved from the remaining Northern White Rhino females into Southern White Rhino surrogates, using sperm from the deceased males. Thomas Hildebrandt, BioRescue’s lead scientist and an expert in wildlife reproduction at the Leibniz-Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, says that the Ol Pejeta Conservancy has created approximately 30 such preserved embryos.
They have chosen the next surrogate mother and have put in place precautions to protect her from bacterial infections. This includes new protective coverings and even protocols for disinfecting staff shoes. Researchers are now waiting for the opportune time to implant the embryo in the female rhino.
The BioRescue efforts have faced many setbacks, but they have not given up on their efforts to save this valuable species. The main obstacle they face regarding this research is time. While using Southern White Rhinos as surrogates for Northern White Rhino embryos is possible at any time, scientists want the new calves to grow and learn alongside members of their own subspecies. This means that new calves must be born before the remaining two females die. Ultimately, the team plans to reintroduce the Northern White Rhinos into the wild within their range countries.
Najin, one of the remaining females, is 35 years old this year, and Fatu is 24. These animals, born in a zoo in the Czech Republic, are expected to have a lifespan of around 40 years.
If this method is successful, it can also be used to save other endangered rhino species, such as the Sumatran rhino, providing hope for preventing extinction in the fight against poaching and habitat destruction.
There are currently five rhino species worldwide, many of which face the threat of extinction. The total number of rhinos now in Africa is about 23,000, of which about 17,000 are Southern White Rhinos. Accordingly, there are only about 6,000 Black Rhinos. Black rhinos are somewhat smaller animals, and three of their subspecies are critically endangered. In Asia, apart from the endangered Javan and Sumatran rhinos, only the larger, single-horned rhino species has some assurance of survival. Their numbers are increasing and are currently estimated at around 2,000.
Let us sincerely hope that the good efforts of these wonderful people to save an animal species that is very close to being lost to the Earth, to nature, to the family of life, directly because of human selfishness, will be successful for the sake of nature, for the sake of the unborn tomorrow.