"For the past 15 years, the BioRescue Project an international consortium dedicated to saving the species has been collecting and preserving sperm from deceased males. Using this genetic material and egg cells from Fatu, they've created 38 embryos. It may sound like a lot, but it's not. Since Najin and Fatu cannot carry a pregnancy, surrogate mothers are essential and it was decided to use southern white rhinos, a less endangered subspecies."
"After 13 attempts to transfer an embryo they achieved the first viable IVF pregnancy in a southern white rhino. The foetus in this image is the result after transfer. Tragically, the pregnancy didn't reach full term (16-18 months), as the surrogate mother died from a bacterial infection at 70 days. But the pregnancy demonstrated that the technique is viable a critical milestone."
"Ethics are central to the project and a dedicated team of ethical scientists monitor every step to ensure no harm is done. The northern white rhinos live in a conservancy in Kenya, protected around the clock by devoted rangers and caretakers. I understand that some may feel uneasy about surrogacy and IVF in animals, but I've seen first-hand how carefully the team evaluates animal welfare."
Only two female northern white rhinos remain, Najin and her daughter Fatu, and neither can carry a pregnancy. The last male died in 2018, leaving the species functionally extinct. For 15 years the BioRescue Project collected and preserved sperm from deceased males and used Fatu’s egg cells to create 38 embryos. Southern white rhinos were selected as surrogate mothers. After 13 embryo transfer attempts the team achieved a viable IVF pregnancy in a southern white rhino, but the surrogate died from a bacterial infection at 70 days and the pregnancy did not reach full term. Ethical oversight and a Kenyan conservancy protect the remaining rhinos.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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