Biological researchers have successfully created a third northern white rhino embryo through unreal measuring rod in a global collaborative attempt to save the virtually nonextant species .
In recent months , scientist have diligently worked to artificially extract and inseminate orchis from the last two rest females , mother - daughter duo Najin and Fatu , both of whom subsist in Kenya and are too old to bear their own materialization . In August , the squad direct the first “ egg cell pickup ” to glean the eggs . They laterfertilizedseven ballock using frosty sperm from deceased males , resultingin two executable fertilized egg . The insemination process was again reprize on December 17 .
“ Our repeated success in generate a third embryo from Fatu demonstrates that the BioRescue program is on the right course . Now , the team will make every effort to attain the same answer for the 30 - yr - old Najin before it is too late for her . We are powerfully committed to our architectural plan to transfer a northern blank conceptus into a foster mother in 2020 to ensure the survival of the fittest of the northern white rhinoceros , ” said Thomas Hildebrandt , head of the Department of Reproduction Management , Leibniz - IZW , in astatement .
The third embryo now joins the other two in fluid atomic number 7 store while it wait a surrogate mother . In June , a squad of external scientist provedsurrogacyto be a workable option after successfully transferring the firsttest - tube rhinoceros embryointo a southern ashen rhinoceros , a nearly related subspecies that may be capable of carrying a northern white rhino conceptus to terminal figure . The finish is to finally create a ruck of at least five northern white individuals to riposte to their natural habitat – a feat that could take decades .
“ We have taken yet another minuscule step along the road of saving the northern white rhinoceros from extinction . We have a retentive way to go and achiever is far from assured , but Kenya continues to play her part at the center of a multi - national collaboration to save this species . Let us hope for intelligence of a successful northern white gestation in the not too removed future , ” tell Brig ( Rtd ) John Waweru , Kenya Wildlife Service Director - General .
The breeding project is a collaborative endeavour of scientists from theKenya Wildlife Service , Ol Pejeta Conservancy , Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research , Avantea Laboratory , andDv?r Králové Zoo . Researchers say preparation for the next phase are presently afoot .
