Two species are African: the black rhino, with 5,500 animals left, and the white rhino. This will tell us the probability of success for cross species embryogenesis.Īs future scientific advances are made, having the rhino’s genome sequence may make it possible to edit the genome of a closely related species into that of an extinct species. While there’s no exact number, experts believe that only 27,000 to 30,000 rhinos are still alive today. The genome sequence produced by Cofactor will be used to determine the divergence and similarity between the northern and southern white rhinos. We are pleased to have the involvement of the team at Cofactor Genomics as we undertake the first whole genome studies of the northern white rhinoceros,” states Oliver Ryder, Director of Genetics at San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. “The northern white rhinoceros genetic rescue project is an amazing example of San Diego Zoo’s global commitment to fight extinction. We will use our decades of experience working on important genome projects (including The Human Genome Project) to sequence the DNA and analyze the genomes of 13 rhino samples. White rhinos have a life expectancy of 40-50 years, and so we are racing against time to save this species.Ĭofactor Genomics was called by the San Diego Zoo to aid in the race to save the northern white rhino. But this option would take much more research, which could take years. And finally, you could turn northern white rhino stem cells into sperm and eggs. Najin lives at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
Another option is In vitro fertilization - but the remaining northern white rhino females are not physically able to carry a pregnancy to term. Northern white rhino keeper, James Mwenda, checks on Najin, one of the last two northern white rhino on the planet. Conservationists flew 30 white rhinos from South Africa to Rwanda last week in what they say is the largest single rhino translocation ever. research and breeding programs have boosted numbers, but poaching. But even if a sufficient number of eggs were gathered from the endangered females, embryo transfer between species is rarely successful. It is the sixth calf born to the Zoos White Rhino breeding program since 2003. You might think with three females and one male remaining, there’s still a chance of natural pregnancy, but a number of factors make it impossible.įor example, you could attempt a surrogate pregnancy, through embryo transfer, in one of the 19 southern white rhinos that live at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.