Scientists have successfully conducted the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) of a southern white rhino, marking a significant stride in the conservation efforts for the endangered species. The breakthrough, announced by researchers from the Biorescue scientific consortium, paves the way for potential salvation of the northern white rhino, whose last remaining members are both female.
Thomas Hildebrandt, the project leader, expressed the unprecedented nature of the success during a press conference in Berlin, emphasizing the transformative impact this could have on the future of rhino conservation.
The success lies in achieving the first pregnancy in a rhino through IVF, a development deemed improbable until now. The impregnation of a southern white rhino with an embryo from the same species is hailed as a “milestone,” offering hope for their critically endangered northern relatives.
The northern white rhino faces imminent extinction, with the last remaining individuals, mother Najin and daughter Fatu, unable to carry a calf to term. The death of the last male, Sudan, in 2018 heightened concerns, prompting an ambitious reproductive program as the last resort for their survival.
The upcoming phase of the breeding initiative involves attempting IVF with a northern white rhino embryo in a surrogate from the closely related southern species. Hildebrandt outlined the urgency, estimating that the team aims to “produce northern white rhino calves in the next two to two-and-a-half years.”
This technological breakthrough not only holds promise for the northern white rhino but could also serve as a model for the conservation of other endangered rhino species, including the Sumatran rhino in South East Asia, as suggested by Hildebrandt.
Rhinos, having roamed the planet for 26 million years, face the dire threat of extinction due to relentless poaching since the 1970s. The significant decline in their numbers emphasizes the critical need for innovative conservation efforts.
The success of IVF technology in rhino reproduction emerges as a beacon of hope, showcasing the potential to reverse the trajectory of endangered species and restore balance to ecosystems that have suffered from human-induced threats.
