Are Efforts to Save Northern White Rhinos from Extinction at an Advanced Stage?
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Synopsis
The Kenya Wildlife Service has reached a critical phase in its efforts to save the Northern White Rhinos from extinction. With only two females left, the collaboration with the BioRescue consortium aims to utilize advanced reproductive technologies. Will these efforts be enough to bring back this majestic species?
Key Takeaways
- The Northern White Rhino is critically endangered with only two females remaining.
- The Kenya Wildlife Service is collaborating with the BioRescue consortium.
- Innovative Assisted Reproduction Technologies are being employed.
- Success in achieving pregnancies could save the subspecies.
- Conservation efforts have been ongoing since 2019.
Nairobi, July 18 (NationPress) The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced on Friday that its initiatives to save the Northern White Rhinos (NWR), a critically endangered subspecies, from extinction via artificial fertilization have reached a pivotal phase.
The KWS is partnering with global collaborators in the BioRescue consortium to harness cutting-edge Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART), including in Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer methods.
After the passing of the last male NWR in 2018, the BioRescue consortium is now investigating ART techniques using the only two remaining females, Najin and her offspring Fatu, who are both cared for at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia County, Central Kenya, as stated in a press release from the KWS.
“Following years of detailed research and refinement of our techniques, we are now at a critical moment in achieving a pregnancy with northern white rhino embryos,” said KWS Director-General Erustus Kanga.
The ART procedure includes extracting eggs from Najin and Fatu, airlifting the eggs to the Avantea laboratory in Cremona, Italy within a vital 24-hour period for maturation into ovum, and utilizing cryopreserved sperm from deceased NWR males to create embryos that will later be implanted into surrogate Southern White Rhinos (SWRs) to support a pregnancy.
Kanga noted that they have already successfully demonstrated a proof of concept by inducing a pregnancy in a surrogate using a SWR embryo.
The BioRescue project, which represents the final hope for this functionally extinct subspecies, has successfully produced several pure NWR embryos that are currently preserved in cryogenic storage for future transfer, according to the KWS.
The KWS indicated that the endeavor to preserve the NWRs commenced earnestly in 2019, building upon decades of conservation work, including the 2009 relocation of the last four fertile NWRs from Zoo Dvur Kralove in the Czech Republic to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
“With the demise of the last two males, Sudan and Suni, the hope for the future now hinges entirely on science and the two surviving females, Najin and her daughter Fatu,” the agency remarked.
Point of View
The ongoing efforts by the KWS highlight a commitment to conservation and the use of innovative science in the face of extinction. The collaboration with international partners reflects the urgency and importance of preserving biodiversity, ensuring that these magnificent creatures are not lost to future generations.
NationPress
26/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Northern White Rhino?
The Northern White Rhino is a critically endangered subspecies of rhinoceros, with only two females left in existence.
Why are the Northern White Rhinos endangered?
They are endangered primarily due to poaching and habitat loss.
How is the Kenya Wildlife Service involved in their conservation?
The KWS is implementing artificial reproduction techniques in collaboration with international partners to save the species from extinction.
What technologies are being used in the conservation efforts?
Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART), including in Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer, are being utilized.
What is the hope for the future of Northern White Rhinos?
There is hope that successful pregnancies can be achieved through these advanced reproductive technologies, leading to the revival of the subspecies.
