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Jevans Nyabiage

Scientists have edged closer to saving the northern white rhinos after they successfully fertilised eggs they harvested from the only two surviving females on Earth.
The procedure raises hope that the species could be saved from extinction.
The veterinarians, racing against time, said that of the 10 eggs they extracted from two female rhinos – Najin, 30, and the daughter Fatu, 19 – last week, seven were found to be fit to be artificially inseminated.
“The international consortium of scientists and conservationists announces that seven out of the 10 eggs (four from Fatu and three from Najin) were successfully matured and artificially inseminated,” said a statement from Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which is about 250km (155 miles) north of Nairobi, Kenya, where the two animals live.


The vets used a technology known as Intra Cytoplasm Sperm Injection or ICSI with frozen sperm harvested from two different male northern white rhino bulls, Suni and Saut, before they died.
The scientists plan to use a surrogate mother rhino, as Najin and Fatu are unable to carry a pregnancy.
Fatu has degenerative lesions in the uterus and Najin has weak hind legs which could cause complications if she fell pregnant forcing the vets to turn to science.
The scientists said the next critical step was to create viable embryos that could be frozen and then later transferred to southern white rhino surrogate mothers.
“We were surprised by the high rate of maturation achieved as we do not get such high rate (comparable to what we get with horse oocytes) with southern white rhino females in European zoos,” said Cesare Galli, a founder of Italian biotech laboratory Avantea, who led the fertilisation procedure.
Saving rhinos: South Africa’s fight against Chinese demand for horns that’s pushing species to extinction 
“The semen of Saut was very difficult to work with and to find three live sperms needed for the eggs of Najin we had to thaw two batches of semen.
“Now the injected oocytes are incubated and we need to wait to see if any viable embryo develop to the stage where it can be cryopreserved for later transfer.”
The successful procedure was a joint effort by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin, Avantea, Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

In December 2009, Najin, Fatu and two male northern white rhinos were translocated from the Czech Republic to Kenya, when it was hoped that breeding would be stimulated by the rhinos being closer to their natural environment.
Although mating attempts were witnessed, there were no pregnancies.
“We came to the conclusion after a health assessment in 2014 that, owing to various health issues, neither Najin nor Fatu are able to carry a pregnancy,” said Dr Robert Hermes from the Leibniz-IZW. Two males – Suni and Sudan – died of natural causes in 2014 and 2018 respectively.
Read the touching tribute from James Mwenda, carer of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino
Their sperm was cryopreserved in the hope that assisted reproduction techniques would advance enough so that they could pass on their genome to a new generation.
Last week, scientists harvested eggs from the two rhinos. The scientists said the procedure was the result of years of research, development, adjustments and practice.
The procedure was conducted with a probe, guided by ultrasound, which harvested immature egg cells (oocytes) from the ovaries of the animals when placed under general anaesthetic.

“On the one hand Ol Pejeta is saddened that we are now down to the last two northern white rhinos on the planet, a testament to the profligate way the human race continues to interact with the natural world around us,” said Richard Vigne, Managing Director of Ol Pejeta.
“However we are also immensely proud to be part of the ground breaking work which is now being deployed to rescue this species. We hope it signals the start of an era where humans finally start to understand that proper stewardship of the environment is not a luxury but a necessity.”
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala said the efforts to save the last northern white rhinos should guide the resolutions the world makes at the ongoing CITES meeting in Geneva.
Poachers broke into a French zoo, killed this white rhino and sawed off its horn
“The assisted reproductive technique should galvanise the world’s attention to the plight of all rhinos and make us avoid decisions that undermine law enforcement and fuel demand for the rhino horn.”
The long-term objective, according to the conservationists is to reintroduce northern white rhinos and future offspring into secure habitats within their former range.
This objective may only be realised in 50-70 years.




The results of possible embryo development are to be announced in September.
The research programme (BioRescue) is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The white rhinoceros consists of two subspecies – the southern white rhino and critically endangered northern white rhino.
Rhinos, including the southern white and black rhinos are usually targeted by poachers who kill the animals for their horns to sell in illegal markets.
Kenya had more than 20,000 rhinos in the 1970s but that has dropped to about 650 – mostly black rhinos- due to years of poaching.


Scientists fertilise eggs from last two northern white rhinos on Earth in bold bid to save species from extinction

Najin, one of the last two female northern white rhinos on Earth. Photo: AFP

Najin, 30, and her offspring Fatu (unseen), 19, two female northern white rhinos, the last two northern white rhinos left on the planet, graze in their secured paddock on August 23, 2019 at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Nanyuki, 147 kilometres north of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. - Veterinarians have successfully harvested eggs from the last two surviving northern white rhinos, taking them one step closer to bringing the species back from the brink of extinction, scientists said in Kenya on August 23. Science is the only hope for the northern white rhino after the death last year of the last male, named Sudan, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya where the groundbreaking procedure was carried out August 22, 2019. (Photo by TONY KARUMBA / AFP)

A handout image made available by the Ol Pejeta Conservancy on August 23, 2019, shows Kenya Wildlife Service vet Dominic Mijele (3rd L) and Ol Pejeta's vet Stephen Ngulu standing next to Fatu, 19, one of the last two northern white rhinos left on the planet, in an enclosure at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in central Kenya on August 21, 2019. - Veterinarians have successfully harvested eggs from the last two surviving northern white rhinos, taking them one step closer to bringing the species back from the brink of extinction, scientists said in Kenya on August 23, 2019. Science is the only hope for the northern white rhino after the death last year of the last male, named Sudan, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya where the groundbreaking procedure was carried out August 22, 2019. (Photo by Ami Vitale / Ol Pejeta Conservancy / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Ol Pejeta Conservancy/ Ami VITALE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVI

TOPSHOT - A handout image made available by the Ol Pejeta Conservancy on August 23, 2019, shows Professor Robert Hermes (L), Professor Thomas Hildebrandt (C) and Dr. Susanne Holtze (R) all from Leibniz-IZW, as they perform a procedure to remove eggs from the ovaries of female northern white rhino Fatu one of the last two northern white rhinos left on the planet, in an enclosure at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in central Kenya on August 22, 2019. - Veterinarians have successfully harvested eggs from the last two surviving northern white rhinos, taking them one step closer to bringing the species back from the brink of extinction, scientists said in Kenya on August 23, 2019. Science is the only hope for the northern white rhino after the death last year of the last male, named Sudan, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya where the groundbreaking procedure was carried out August 22, 2019. (Photo by Ami Vitale / Ol Pejeta Conservancy / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP P

A monitor displays the inseminating of eggs from the last two remaining female of northern white rhinos with frozen sperm from two rhino bulls of the same species, at the Avantea laboratory in Cremona, Italy, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019. The northern white rhino is on the verge of extinction but Sunday's operation raises hopes that they'll survive. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Read the touching tribute from James Mwenda, carer of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino

(FILES) This file photo taken on March 20, 2018 shows Najin (L) and Fatu, the two remaining Northern White Rhino as they graze together in their paddock at the ol-Pejeta conservancy in Nanyuki. Months after the death of Sudan, the world's last male northern white rhino, scientists said On July 4, 2018 they have grown embryos containing DNA of his kind, hoping to save the subspecies from extinction. / AFP PHOTO / TONY KARUMBA

Sudan was the last male northern white rhino on earth. He needed constant armed protection from poachers. He died in March this year. Photo: Ben Stirton

Saving rhinos: South Africa’s fight against Chinese demand for horns that’s pushing species to extinction 

From surveillance planes to witch doctors, conservationists and park rangers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, are exploring every option in a desperate fight to save its rhinos, whose horns are worth more than their weight in gold

Truman Ndlovu, acting General Manager and Security and Reserve Operations Manager, holding a Rhino horn after dehorning at the Kruger National Park, in Africa on May 02, 2018. [27MAY2018 FEATURES POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT / Kate Whitehead

Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) at the Kruger National Park, in Africa on May 02, 2018. [27MAY2018 FEATURES POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT / Kate Whitehead

A warning sign outside Thanda at the Kruger National Park, in Africa on May 02, 2018. [27MAY2018 FEATURES POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT / Kate Whitehead

A white rhino at the Thanda Safari game reserve, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

ZAP-Wing’s base manager and pilot Ian Waghorn’s plane with hs grounded plane, awaiting spares, and which does aerial surveillance, at the Kruger National Park, in Africa on May 02, 2018. [27MAY2018 FEATURES POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT / Kate Whitehead

Dehorning a Rhino at the Kruger National Park, in Africa on May 01, 2018. The man in the dark shades is King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, the man to the left of the king is Daniel, a rhino monitor and the rhino has a name - she's called C18. [27MAY2018 FEATURES POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT / Kate Whitehead

Dr Trevor Viljoen from Mtubatuba Veterinary Clinic with a helicopter, at the Kruger National Park, in Africa on May 02, 2018. [27MAY2018 FEATURES POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT / Kate Whitehead

Eric Dickson, co-ordinator of Project Rhino K9 and who has trained his three-year-old Belgian Malinois called Mali to sniff out rhino horn, weapons and ammunition at the Kruger National Park, in Africa on May 02, 2018. [27MAY2018 FEATURES POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT / Kate Whitehead

Dr Trevor Viljoen from Mtubatuba Veterinary Clinic with a DNA test at the Kruger National Park, in Africa on May 02, 2018. [27MAY2018 FEATURES POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT / Kate Whitehead

Helicopter surveillance at the Thanda Safari game reserve, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Pictures: Kate Whitehead

Poachers broke into a French zoo, killed this white rhino and sawed off its horn

The incident is believed to be the first time in Europe that a rhino in captivity has been attacked and killed

The four-year-old male white rhino called Vince is seen in this handout picture released by the Thoiry zoo and wildlife park. Vince was found dead in his enclosure on Tuesday morning with his horn sawed off. Photo: Reuters

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There are only two surviving female members of the species after the last male died last year
Scientists hope that viable embryos can transferred to southern white rhino surrogate mothers



An international team of scientists has edged closer to saving the northern white rhino after they successfully fertilised eggs harvested from the only two surviving females of the species.


Conservation

Scientists fertilise eggs from last two northern white rhinos on Earth in bold bid to save species from extinction

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} There are only two surviving female members of the species after the last male died last year Scientists hope that viable embryos can transferred to southern white rhino surrogate mothers

There are only two surviving female members of the species after the last male died last year

Scientists hope that viable embryos can transferred to southern white rhino surrogate mothers