In the vast savannahs of Kenya, two northern white rhinos named Nájin and Fatu roam peacefully. They are the last two of their kind left on Earth. Without a male, their species is considered functionally extinct, meaning they can’t reproduce naturally. However, there is still hope to bring back the northern white rhino.
About 50 years ago, poachers began hunting rhinos across Africa for their horns, which are highly valued. This, along with civil wars in their habitats, drastically reduced the number of northern white rhinos. In the 1970s, conservationists started breeding programs to save them, collecting and storing semen from males. Despite these efforts, only four rhinos were born, with Nájin and her daughter Fatu being the last survivors.
In 2014, scientists found that neither Nájin nor Fatu could have calves. Nájin, who once gave birth to Fatu, now has weak hind legs, making pregnancy risky. Fatu has a problem with her uterine lining. The last male, Sudan, died in 2018, but hope remains through artificial reproduction techniques.
With no males and females unable to carry pregnancies, scientists turned to artificial reproduction. They had stored semen but needed to collect eggs from the females, which is a complex process requiring sedation. The goal was to create a viable embryo in a lab, a task never accomplished before.
To carry the embryos, scientists looked to the southern white rhinos, a closely related species. These rhinos live in different regions and have slight physical differences but share a common ancestor with northern white rhinos. Some southern white rhinos needed reproductive treatment, allowing researchers to collect their eggs.
In October 2015, experts began collecting eggs from southern white rhinos and sent them to a lab in Italy. There, scientists developed a technique to create viable embryos. On August 22, 2019, eggs were collected from Nájin and Fatu and fertilized with northern white rhino sperm. Two embryos were successfully preserved, with another added in December 2019.
As of early 2020, the plan is to collect eggs from Nájin and Fatu three times a year, if they remain healthy. Researchers are also searching for southern white rhino surrogates who have successfully carried pregnancies before. Although transferring an embryo is tricky due to the rhino’s cervix shape, scientists are hopeful. Northern and southern white rhinos have interbred in the past, and their pregnancies last the same length.
The ultimate goal is to establish a breeding population of northern white rhinos in their original habitat, a process that could take decades. Studies suggest that with the genetic samples available, it’s possible to recreate a population with the diversity it had a century ago.
This effort raises important questions about our responsibility to save species from extinction, especially when human actions have contributed to their decline. As more species face similar threats, we must consider the limits of our efforts and the importance of preserving biodiversity for future generations.
Research another extinct or critically endangered species and create a presentation about it. Include information on the causes of its decline, conservation efforts, and any remaining hope for its survival. Present your findings to the class to raise awareness about biodiversity and conservation.
Participate in a class debate on the ethical implications of using artificial reproduction techniques to save species from extinction. Consider the pros and cons, and discuss whether resources should be allocated to such efforts. Prepare your arguments and engage in a respectful discussion with your peers.
Work in groups to develop a conservation action plan for the northern white rhino. Consider factors such as habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and community involvement. Present your plan to the class and discuss how it could be implemented in real-world scenarios.
Learn about the role of genetics in conservation by exploring how genetic diversity is important for species survival. Create a poster or infographic that explains these concepts and how they apply to the northern white rhino’s situation. Share your work with the class.
Write a reflective essay on the responsibility humans have in preventing species extinction. Consider the impact of human activities on biodiversity and what actions can be taken to mitigate these effects. Share your thoughts on how future generations can benefit from preserving biodiversity.
In the savannahs of Kenya, two female northern white rhinos, Nájin and Fatu, graze peacefully on the grass. At the time of this video’s publication, they are the last two known northern white rhinos left on Earth. Their species is functionally extinct—without a male, Nájin and Fatu cannot reproduce. However, there is still hope to revive the northern white rhino.
The story begins about 50 years ago when poachers started illegally hunting thousands of rhinos across Africa for their horns. This, combined with civil wars in their territory, severely reduced northern white rhino populations. Concerned conservationists began efforts to breed them in captivity in the 1970s, collecting and storing semen from males. Ultimately, only four rhinos were born through this ambitious breeding program, with Nájin and her daughter Fatu being the last two.
In 2014, conservationists discovered that neither can have a calf. Although Nájin gave birth to Fatu, she now has weak hind legs, which could pose health risks if she were to become pregnant again. Fatu, on the other hand, has a degenerated uterine lining. The last northern white rhino male, Sudan, died in 2018, but there remains a glimmer of hope: artificial reproduction.
With no living males and no females capable of carrying a pregnancy, this process is complex and risky. While scientists had stored semen, they needed to collect eggs—a complicated procedure that requires sedation for the female rhinos. Then, they would create a viable embryo in the lab—something that had never been done before, and no one knew how to accomplish.
Even that was just the beginning; a surrogate mother from another rhino species would need to carry the embryo to term. Females of a closely related species, the southern white rhino, became key candidates for both developing a rhino embryo in a lab and serving as surrogate mothers. Northern and southern white rhinos diverged about a million years ago into separate, though closely related, species. They inhabit different regions and have slightly different physical traits.
In a fortunate coincidence, several female southern white rhinos required treatment for their own reproductive issues, allowing researchers to collect eggs as part of that treatment. In October 2015, experts from IZW Berlin began collecting eggs from southern white rhinos at Dvůr Králové Zoo and sending them to Avantea, an animal reproduction laboratory in Italy. There, scientists developed and perfected a technique to create a viable embryo.
Once the technique was mastered, researchers extracted eggs from Nájin and Fatu on August 22, 2019, and flew them to Italy. Three days later, they fertilized the eggs with sperm from a northern white rhino male. After another week, two of the eggs reached a developmental stage where the embryo could be frozen and preserved for future use. Another collection in December 2019 produced one more embryo.
As of early 2020, the plan is to collect eggs from Nájin and Fatu three times a year if they are healthy enough. In the meantime, researchers are searching for promising southern white rhino surrogate mothers—ideally those who have successfully carried a pregnancy to term before. The surrogacy plan is somewhat of a leap of faith; southern and northern white rhinos have interbred both during the last glacial period and more recently in 1977, so researchers are optimistic that a southern white rhino could carry a northern white rhino to term. Additionally, the two species have pregnancies of the same length.
However, transferring an embryo to a rhino is tricky due to the shape of the cervix. The ultimate goal, which will take decades, is to establish a breeding population of northern white rhinos in their original range. Studies suggest that we have samples from enough individuals to recreate a population with the genetic diversity the species had a century ago.
Though the specifics of this effort are unique, as more species face critical endangerment or functional extinction, it raises important questions: Do we have a responsibility to try to bring species back from the brink, especially when human actions contributed to their decline? Are there limits to the efforts we should expend on saving animals threatened with extinction?
Rhinos – Large, herbivorous mammals known for their thick skin and one or two horns on their snouts. – Rhinos are often targeted by poachers for their horns, which has led to a significant decline in their population.
Extinction – The permanent loss of a species from the planet. – The extinction of the dodo bird is a classic example of how human activities can lead to the disappearance of a species.
Reproduction – The biological process by which new individual organisms are produced. – In many species, reproduction is essential for the survival and continuation of the species.
Conservation – The protection and preservation of natural resources and environments. – Conservation efforts are crucial to protect endangered species and their habitats from further destruction.
Embryos – Early developmental stages of an organism, especially before it has reached a distinctively recognizable form. – Scientists study embryos to understand the development processes of different species.
Habitat – The natural environment in which a species lives and grows. – The destruction of the rainforest has led to the loss of habitat for many unique species.
Biodiversity – The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem. – High biodiversity in an ecosystem can contribute to its resilience and stability.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – The giant panda is a species that has been the focus of many conservation programs.
Southern – Relating to or situated in the south. – The southern hemisphere is home to unique ecosystems and species not found in the northern hemisphere.
Northern – Relating to or situated in the north. – The northern regions of the world are experiencing significant changes due to climate change, affecting local wildlife.
