Scientists take significant step toward saving Northern White Rhino from extinction

In a groundbreaking move toward preserving the critically endangered Northern White Rhino, scientists are one step closer to restoring the population using advanced reproductive techniques.

Professor Thomas Hildebrandt, part of the BioRescue project, announced a major milestone last year when his team successfully transferred a Southern White Rhino embryo into a surrogate mother. Though this experiment was a success for the more populous Southern White Rhino, with around 20,000 still in existence, the breakthrough offers new hope for its nearly extinct relative – the Northern White Rhino, of which only two females remain.

“We produced a proven pregnancy in Africa with an embryo generated here in Europe from European parents. And this embryo grew into a nice little rhino,” Hildebrandt explained, underscoring the significance of the process for the future of rhino conservation.

The success of the Southern White Rhino embryo transfer sets the stage for the next big step – implanting a lab-made Northern White Rhino embryo into a Southern White Rhino surrogate. With no males remaining after the death of Sudan, the last male of the species, in 2018, and the two living females unable to carry pregnancies due to health complications, this process represents the best chance for saving the subspecies.

Currently, scientists have successfully produced 33 pure Northern White Rhino embryos, derived from frozen sperm and egg cells from the remaining females. “We are here today with 33 embryos. We have a lot of embryos available, and we estimate that we can produce about 10 to 15 babies,” said Hildebrandt. These future offspring would generate new egg cells, offering the potential to rebuild the population and sustain it long-term.

Although the Southern White Rhino surrogate used in the initial test passed away from an unrelated illness, the embryo showed normal development, giving hope for future transfers. The first successful transfer of a Northern White Rhino embryo could happen as soon as this year, with a long-term vision of releasing the species back into the wild within two decades.

“We can prove that human society can not only destroy biodiversity. We can actually repair it and bring it back. That is a really important message,” Hildebrandt emphasized.

Despite this optimism, some conservation groups argue that it may be too late for the Northern White Rhino, given the destruction of its natural habitat across parts of Africa. Nonetheless, the BioRescue team remains hopeful, seeking continued funding beyond the expiration of a German government grant next year to advance their efforts.

As conservationists face challenges with poaching and habitat loss, this effort represents a glimmer of hope for the future of one of the world’s most endangered species.