• UGI USER
  • Feb 01, 2024
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REBUILDING THE NORTHERN WHITE RHINO: A RACE AGAINST TIME

Why in the News?

  • Recently, scientists announced the first-ever successful rhinopregnancy via IVF, using a surrogate southern white rhino.
  • The international consortium, BioRescue, aims to replicate this success with 30 stored embryos of the northern white.

Background:

  • The death of the last male in 2018 marked the impending extinction of the northern white rhino.
  • In 2015, an ambitious project to revive the subspecies through in vitro fertilization (IVF) was initiated by 20 scientists from five continents.
  • Challenges include preparing suitable surrogate mothers and genetic viability due to limited gene pool.
Source: Travel for Wildlife
About Rhino Species

·    Only two northern white rhinos remain globally, making them critically endangered.

·    White rhinos are the second largest land mammal, known for their square lips distinguishing them from other rhino species.

·    The northern white rhino is critically endangered, while the southern white rhino is near threatened.

Other Rhino Species

·    The black rhinoceros, with three extinct subspecies, is critically endangered.

·    Indian rhinoceros, with a single horn, is vulnerable.

·    Javan and Sumatran rhinos, critically endangered, have one and two horns respectively.

About In vitro Fertilization (IVF)

·    IVF, a form of Assisted Reproductive Technology, involves fertilization outside the body.

·    Latin for “in glass,” IVF procedures are conducted in a lab.

·    Eggs are retrieved, fertilized, and embryos transferred to a uterus during IVF.