World’s first IVF rhino pregnancy may save species

THE world’s first pregnancy in a rhinoceros through IVF could save the most endangered species on the planet, scientists hope.

Northern White Rhinos are functionally extinct, with just two females left, after the last male died in 2018.

Now, in a major breakthrough, an international group of scientists and conservationists, has successfully transferred an embryo into a southern white rhino surrogate.

Although the mother named Curra died within a few months of conception it marks a proof of concept that opens the door to transferring northern white rhino embryos.

Since 2019, the Biorescue conservation science programme has cryopreserved 30 northern white rhino embryos, but has been unwilling to transfer them until they knew the procedure would succeed.

Thomas Hildebrandt, Biorescue project head at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, who developed the technique to determine where to insert the embryo said: “The embryo transfer technique is well established for humans and for domesticated animals such as horses or cows.

“But for rhinos, it has been completely uncharted territory. It took many years to get it right and we are overwhelmed that we now have proof that this technique works perfectly.

“It is bitter that this milestone is confirmed under such tragic circumstances with the death of Curra and her unborn calf, but I am certain that this proof of concept is a turn of the tide for the survival of the northern white rhino.”

Northern White Rhinos are the most endangered mammal on Earth. Conservation efforts have been hampered by poaching, civil war and habitat loss.

White rhino Culla was carrying a viable lab-created embryo, inset, when she died from an infection. But the successful transfer of the embyo brings fresh hope that the world’s most endangered species can be saved