Breakthrough in Rhino Conservation: First IVF Rhino Pregnancy Sparks Hope for Saving Northern White Rhino

In a bold stride toward conserving one of the world’s most endangered subspecies, scientists have achieved the first successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy in rhinoceroses. This milestone occurred at Kenya's reputed Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to Najin and Fatu, the last two Northern White Rhinos on the planet.

Under the BioRescue project, an international team has been tirelessly working to prevent the extinction of the Northern White Rhino, especially since no males are left and the females are incapable of sustaining natural pregnancies. The pregnancy involved a Southern White Rhino surrogate, leveraging advanced reproductive technology that previously saw the implantation of a Southern White embryo created in lab conditions on 24th September 2023.

Although the pregnancy lasted only 70 days and ended tragically due to a bacterial infection unrelated to the procedure itself, it has carved a path of hope for replicating this success with Northern White Rhino embryos. The fetus reached a development length of 6.4 centimeters before the surrogate mother succumbed to the infection, a result of flood-induced clostridium spores.

This breakthrough paves the way for future attempts with Northern White Rhino embryos, housed and preserved in liquid nitrogen. The sudden pregnancy detection post-mortem in November 2023 underscored both the operation's undercover success and its implicit challenges.

Professor Thomas Hildebrandt, BioRescue's lead researcher, emphasized the meticulous process of selecting and preparing surrogate mothers from the Southern White Rhino population, a species more numerous and related closely enough to potentially carry Northern White embryos to term.

The overarching plan involves not only biotechnical interventions but also ensuring that calves, though carried by Southern Whites, are housed with Northern Whites to imbibe their unique behavioral and environmental adaptations. This is crucial since the two species inhabit starkly different African territories and exhibit diverse behaviors.

BioRescue's approach goes beyond just breeding. It extends to preparing a genetically diverse foundation for future populations through advanced scientific techniques, including using skin cells from deceased animals for gene variability. This ensures a prospective, secure population rebound for the Northern White Rhino.

Despite the science's promises, Hildebrandt warns against seeing this as a panacea for habitat destruction or poor conservation policies, highlighting it as a remedy for past mistakes, not a license for future recklessness. The goal is clear: generate a sustainable future for the Northern White Rhino without compromising ecological responsibilities.