It’s a scientific first for endangered species, but it’s far from a panacea.
Researchers announced Tuesday they have successfully transferred an embryo into the uterus of a southern white rhinoceros as part of an effort to save a close relative, the northern white rhino, which is on the brink of extinction.
Led by the Berlin-based Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, the rhino IVF was performed last month at the Chorzow zoo in Poland.
Project leader Professor Thomas Hildebrandt, who is part of an international team of experts at BioRescue, called this the first proof that a theory development in the lab can work in practice. Though scientists admit they doubt the embryo actually implanted in the uterine lining, they won’t know for sure until the recipient rhino is reexamined.
Still, they are calling it a success.
“The BioRescue research project can play an important role in the conservation of species diversity because it significantly advances existing approaches for species conservation,” he said in a statement.
A year ago, the world’s last male northern white rhino, named Sudan, died.
#RememberingSudan 1 Yr On
Reflecting on the reality of a species that is facing extinction, we hear from individuals who interacted w/ Sudan, the last male northern white rhino. Tue 19.03.2019 marks exactly 1 yr since Sudan died.
What r your memories of the #lastmanstanding? pic.twitter.com/TMlrnOBLRD— Ol Pejeta (@OlPejeta) March 18, 2019
Now, there are only two female northern white rhinos left on Earth.
A mother and daughter named Najin and Fatu. They live at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
But neither are able to carry calves.
BioRescue is now waiting for the government in Kenya to allow scientists to harvest their eggs, which they could combine with frozen sperm samples saved from the last males.
Any embryos would then be implanted in surrogate rhinos.
Researchers are also looking at using stem cells to help create the building blocks for life and expand genetic variability in the population.
The German government has committed €4-million (about $4.5-million US) to the project.
“Biodiversity provides the basis for our livelihoods,” Dr. Michael Meister, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Education and Research, said in a statement.
“There is now both the possibility and the hope that we will be able to preserve critically endangered species such as the northern white rhinoceros,” he added.
The science may be on their side, but time is quickly running out.
Main photo Justin Mott/Instagram
