How are scientists trying to save the northern white rhino?

The BioRescue Project, an international consortium, has been collecting and preserving sperm from deceased northern white rhinos and creating embryos using Fatu's egg cells. Since Najin and Fatu cannot carry a pregnancy, the team is using southern white rhinos as surrogate mothers.

Home / Environment / Pioneering IVF Pregnancy Offers Hope for Endangered Northern White Rhinos

Pioneering IVF Pregnancy Offers Hope for Endangered Northern White Rhinos

Q: What is the status of the northern white rhino population?

The article states that as of 2025-10-15T18:26:58+00:00, there are only two female northern white rhinos left on the planet - Najin and her daughter Fatu. The last male northern white rhino died in 2018, making the species functionally extinct.

Q: What happened with the first successful IVF pregnancy in a southern white rhino surrogate?

The article states that the team achieved the first viable IVF pregnancy in a southern white rhino surrogate, but tragically, the pregnancy did not reach full term as the surrogate mother died from a bacterial infection at 70 days. However, this milestone has proven that the team's technique is viable, offering hope for the northern white rhino's survival.

15 Oct

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Summary

Only 2 female northern white rhinos left, unable to carry pregnancy
Scientists create 38 embryos using preserved sperm and egg cells
First successful IVF pregnancy in southern white rhino surrogate ends tragically

Pioneering IVF Pregnancy Offers Hope for Endangered Northern White Rhinos

As of 2025-10-15T18:26:58+00:00, there are only two female northern white rhinos left on the planet - Najin and her daughter Fatu. Tragically, neither can carry a pregnancy due to health complications, and the last male northern white rhino died in 2018, making the species functionally extinct.

For the past 15 years, the BioRescue Project, an international consortium, has been working tirelessly to save the northern white rhino from extinction. They have collected and preserved sperm from deceased males and created 38 embryos using Fatu's egg cells. However, with Najin and Fatu unable to carry a pregnancy, the team has turned to southern white rhinos, a less endangered subspecies, as surrogate mothers.

In a major breakthrough, the BioRescue team achieved the first viable IVF pregnancy in a southern white rhino surrogate. Tragically, the pregnancy did not reach full term, as the surrogate mother died from a bacterial infection at 70 days. But this milestone has proven that the team's technique is viable, reigniting hope for the northern white rhino's survival.

The project's lead, Prof. Thomas Hildebrandt, emphasizes that science alone cannot be the sole solution, and conservation efforts must go hand in hand with scientific advancements to prevent extinction. The northern white rhinos are protected around the clock by dedicated rangers and caretakers in a conservancy in Kenya, and the team of ethical scientists carefully monitors every step to ensure the welfare of the animals.

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