The world’s first successful IVF rhino pregnancy has ignited hope for saving the critically endangered northern white rhino species. With only two individuals remaining on the planet, scientists have achieved a milestone by transferring a lab-created rhino embryo into a surrogate mother, which is a closely related sub-species. This breakthrough, achieved by the Biorescue project, an international consortium aiming to save the species, marks a significant step towards recreating northern white rhinos and preventing their extinction.
The northern white rhinos, once widespread across central Africa, have been decimated by illegal poaching driven by the demand for rhino horn. Currently, only two female rhinos, Najin and Fatu, are alive and kept under strict security at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Given their inability to reproduce, the species is technically extinct. However, the Biorescue team has turned to pioneering fertility science to bring these majestic animals back from the brink.
The journey towards the first IVF rhino pregnancy involved working with southern white rhinos, a closely related sub-species with a much larger population. Despite facing numerous challenges, such as egg collection from massive animals and creating lab-grown rhino embryos, the team persevered. It took 13 attempts to achieve a viable IVF pregnancy using southern white rhinos.
The successful transfer of the embryo into a surrogate southern white rhino offered hope, but an unfortunate setback occurred when the surrogate mother died due to a deadly bacterial infection after 70 days of pregnancy. Despite the tragedy, the post-mortem revealed that the 6.5cm male foetus was developing well and had a 95% chance of being born alive, confirming the effectiveness of the technique. Now, the focus shifts to northern white rhino embryos, with only 30 remaining embryos stored in liquid nitrogen in Germany and Italy.
However, another scientific breakthrough is necessary to birth a northern white calf. Neither of the two surviving northern whites can carry a pregnancy due to age and health issues. Therefore, the Biorescue team plans to implant the northern white rhino embryos into the womb of a surrogate southern white rhino, attempting IVF across sub-species for the first time. The team remains optimistic, given the close genetic relationship between the sub-species.
The researchers aim to implant the embryos in the coming months to ensure that the calf is born while some northern white rhinos are still alive. This approach seeks to preserve the social communication and behaviors unique to the species through learning from the last two remaining northern whites. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that expanding the population through IVF alone would not generate enough genetic diversity for long-term viability. To address this concern, the team is concurrently exploring an experimental technique to create rhino sperm and eggs from stem cells, a complex process with several scientific challenges.
While some experts argue that redirecting resources towards saving more viable species would be more effective, the BioRescue project coordinator and wildlife experts emphasize the vital role humans played in the extinction of northern white rhinos due to greed and illegal poaching. They argue that if a technique exists to save the species, it is our responsibility to use it and make every possible effort to protect and recover them. The northern white rhinos contribute significantly to the ecosystem, making their preservation crucial for maintaining balance and biodiversity.
The groundbreaking IVF rhino pregnancy serves as a beacon of hope for the endangered northern white rhino species. It showcases the power of scientific advancements in conserving and protecting endangered wildlife. By applying innovative fertility techniques and reproductive strategies, the Biorescue project aims to reverse the devastating effects of human activity on these magnificent creatures. While challenges lie ahead, including the need for genetic diversity and further experimental techniques, this achievement ignites optimism for the resurrection of a species teetering on the edge of extinction.
