![northern white rhinoceros extinct northern white rhinoceros extinct](https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzQ1NzI0OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMzYxOTMzMX0.DkkZtxjhLhF4dElOfVsnw2iTUoWToF3SFw6tUHi4Z9k/img.jpg)
What the future looks like for the embryos After an encouraging increase in numbers by the 90s, the northern white rhino population plummeted once again during the Congolese Civil War because harvesting ivory and rhino horn was one method the rebel and militia groups raised funds for their operations. As late as 1960, there were around 2,360 northern white rhinos, says Save the Rhino, but widespread poaching and civil unrest decimated the species, shrinking the population to only 15 by 1984. An average of three rhinos are poached for their horn every day across Africa, according to Save the Rhino, a UK-based (and Europe’s largest) rhino charity. Northern white rhinos, in particular, have been wiped out by poaching and loss of habitat. There are five different rhino species in the world: three in Asia and two in Africa, and two of these have less than 80 animals surviving in the wild. How the northern white rhino became functionally extinct To bypass this issue, the embryos will be implanted in surrogate mothers of the southern white rhino species, of which there are many more specimens – between 17,212 and 18,915 in the wild. In 2014, scientists discovered that Fatu was likely infertile due to cysts and uterine lesions, and elderly Najin also was unfit for birthing: her hind legs are weak and veterinarians believe a pregnancy would be harmful to her. Susanne Holtze from Leibniz-IZW (right) © Ami Vitale Thomas Hildebrandt from Leibniz-IZW (middle) and Dr. Robert Hermesfrom Leibniz-IZW (left), Prof.
![northern white rhinoceros extinct northern white rhinoceros extinct](http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130215073425/zootycoon/images/a/a0/Urlv.jpg)
Fatu is undergoing the ovum pick-up procedure. The 31-year-old rhino has a large tumor in her abdomen, which may hamper the functionality of her reproductive organs. The rhino reproduction specialists believe that this might be due to Najin’s health issues. Previously, collecting oocytes from her mother, Najin, was successful, but no embryos were created from her egg cells. In the latest procedure, the oocytes were retrieved from Fatu only. The consortium of researchers working with BioRescue includes: Avantea, an Italian lab for advanced technologies in animal reproduction based in the northern city of Cremona, which has led the in vitro fertilization process the Kenya Wildlife Service Ol Pejeta Conservancy, as mentioned and Dvůr Králové Zoo, a safari park in the Czech Republic and one of the best rhino breeders outside of Africa. In order to avoid the extinction of the northern white rhino, BioRescue – led by Thomas Hildebrandt of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) – is working to harvest immature egg cells, oocytes, from the two females and artificially inseminates them using frozen sperm from males that are now deceased. With only two females surviving, it may seem impossible to bring the species back from the brink of extinction, but if the scientists succeed they might create a precedent, a blueprint that may be used to save other species. This is why Ol Pejeta has security measures in place to protect the two animals from the constant threat of poaching. Najin and Fatu at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya are the only remaining northern white rhinos in the world – and they are both females. An international effort to save a species This is an incredible achievement – even more so considering the challenges and delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The first three were produced in 2019, totalling five embryos today. #NorthernWhiteRhino #OvumPickUp #NajinandFatu /fGYX0bPOfr- Ol Pejeta January 14, 2021 The incredible Project team of scientists performed the fourth ovum pick up on our northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu on December 13th, 2020. TWO NEW NORTHERN WHITE RHINO EMBRYOS CREATED AT CHRISTMAS.