Revolutionary Embryo Transfer Technique In Kenya Breaks New Ground in Rhino Conservation
By: Bernard Gitau
In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists and veterinarians from the BioRescue project have achieved the world’s first rhinoceros pregnancy through embryo transfer, marking a significant leap forward in the mission to save the northern white rhino from extinction.
The historic event occurred on September 24, 2023, at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, where a southern white rhino surrogate mother successfully carried a 6.4cm-long male embryo for 70 days. This success with southern white rhino embryos paves the way for the critical next step: the transfer of northern white rhino embryos, a pivotal move in the fight against the species’ extinction.
Thomas Hildebrandt, the head of the BioRescue project at Leibniz-IZW, expressed the enormity of the achievement, emphasizing the extensive efforts that had to be invested in developing entirely new protocols, methods, and equipment for rhino embryo transfer. The breakthrough, though bittersweet due to the loss of the surrogate Curra and her calf, signifies a turning point for the survival of the northern white rhino and the health of Central-African ecosystems.
Currently, only two northern white rhinos, Najin and Fatu, exist in the world. The success of the embryo transfer technique comes at a crucial time, enabling the opportunity for a northern white rhino baby to be raised alongside Najin and Fatu to learn essential social behaviors.
The BioRescue conservation science program, initiated in 2019, has cryopreserved 30 northern white rhino embryos stored in liquid nitrogen in Berlin, Germany, and Cremona, Italy. The embryos, derived from 12 different northern white rhino individuals, represent a beacon of hope for the species.
Living cells used in the embryo production were retrieved from Elenore, a southern white rhinoceros at Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium, while the fertilizing sperm came from Athos at Zoo Salzburg in Hellbrunn, Austria. The in-vitro fertilization process, utilizing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and blastocyst development, took place at Avantea’s laboratories in Cremona, Italy.
Dr. Erustus Kanga, Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), expressed the government’s delight in being part of this conservation journey. KWS commits to providing ongoing leadership and support to ensure the success of the northern white rhino recovery efforts, with the ultimate goal of reintroducing the species to their former range states as part of the global heritage.
As the BioRescue project progresses, the next steps include the selection and preparation of a new teaser bull to assist in determining when a surrogate female is ready for embryo implantation. With thirteen successful embryo transfers conducted so far, the BioRescue team continues to demonstrate unwavering dedication to the preservation of the northern white rhino genetic lineage, offering renewed hope for the future of this majestic species.
