The race to halt extinction of the northern white rhinoceros commenced in 2019 amid signs of a possible breakthrough as scientists leverage assisted fertilization to produce healthy calves. The future collection of egg cells from the female northern white rhinoceros will also be guided by regular risk assessment, the KWS said. “A greater number of embryos increase the chances of having a northern white rhino calf on the ground,” said the KWS, adding that the consortium of scientists intends to collect egg cells from the female northern white rhinoceros called Fatu on a regular basis. It said the two new embryos were matured and inseminated at a laboratory in Italy, cryopreserved in November 2021 and February as they await transfer to a southern white rhinoceros female surrogate.Ĭreation of the two embryos was conducted using semen from a northern white rhinoceros bull called Angalifu and they are currently preserved in liquid nitrogen awaiting transfer to the surrogate mother. Cells with the potential to form sperm and eggs have been derived. According to the KWS, the procedures at Ol Pejeta conservancy in October 2021 and February marked the seventh and eighth successful egg cell collection by a consortium of local and international scientists as well as conservationists. 9 December 2022 Najin and Fatu, the last two northern white rhinos, at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. So far, 14 embryos have been successfully produced, after oocytes or egg cells were harvested from one of the two remaining northern female white rhinoceros sheltering at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in northern Kenya. The KWS said in a statement that the embryos were created following two procedures in October last year and February, and they will be transferred to a surrogate southern female rhinoceros in the near future. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said Thursday that two new northern white rhinoceros embryos had been created through a partnership with international researchers to help save the iconic herbivore. Image: Tony Karumba/AFP Xinhua, The East African | February 18, 2022
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