We are so pleased to start the new year by sharing some very positive conservation news with you. Today, we announced the creation of two additional northern white rhino embryos. This makes for a total of five viable pure northern white rhino embryos, another impressive step in the right direction for the survival of the species.
As you are probably aware, since you are a supporter of Ol Pejeta, Najin and Fatu are the only remaining northern white rhinos in the world.
To prevent the extinction of the northern white rhino, an international consortium of scientists and conservationists have been harvesting immature egg cells (oocytes) from the two females and artificially inseminating them using frozen sperm from deceased males in order to create viable northern white rhino embryos.
In the near future, the embryos will be transferred into southern white rhino surrogate mothers to create northern white rhino offspring.
On December 13th, 2020, the incredible BioRescue team of scientists performed the fourth oocyte collection on our northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu. Even in the face of a global pandemic, these dedicated individuals made it from Europe to carry out the procedure.
14 eggs were collected from Fatu – the youngest of the northern white rhinos – and out of those 14 eggs, two fertilised oocytes developed into viable embryos. These miracle embryos, and the three from the other procedures, are now being stored in liquid nitrogen and will soon be transferred to surrogate southern white rhinos.
Unfortunately, no oocytes were retrieved from Najin, who is Fatu’s mother. The team of experts believes that Najin’s age and/or health issues could affect the quality of her egg cells. The 31-year-old rhino has a large, tumour in her abdomen, which at this point does not cause acute health problems but may hamper the functionality of her reproductive organs.
Nevertheless, the creation of two more embryos nourishes the hope that despite challenges and delays caused by COVID-19 the northern white rhino can still be saved. The next steps in the programme are already underway and we promise to keep you updated on any new developments.
