There are only two surviving northern white rhinos in the world, both of which are female and infertile. While this situation might indicate the end of the species, scientists have recently gotten one step closer towards preventing that by turning to advanced reproductive technologies for help.
Veterinarians have successfully managed to harvest 10 eggs from the last surviving female northern white rhinos in Kenya, in an unprecedented procedure. It is hoped the harvested eggs will be fertilized using frozen sperm from a northern white rhinoceros that passed away last year.
However, the two surviving rhinos, a mother and a daughter called Najin and Fatu, are both unable to breed because of genetic reasons. That’s why, if everything works out, the embryo will be placed in the uterus of a surrogate mother southern white rhino, who will proceed to give birth to a northern white rhino calf.
