Living Legacy
The last male northern white rhino, Sudan, passed away peacefully in captivity in March.
It was tragic news for conservationists and for Sudan’s species. Only two northern white rhinos remain. Both are females.
Still, scientists think they may have found a way to keep the species alive, the New York Times reported.
In a recent study, researchers created hybrid northern rhino embryos by combining frozen sperm samples of northern males with eggs of female southern white rhinos, a similar species.
Biologists plan to implant the embryos in surrogate southern white females with the long-term goal of preserving the northern white species.
With only two surviving female northern white rhinos and sperm samples from only four males, the team is also considering using stem-cell technology to produce additional reproductive cells from tissue samples held by the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Those samples are from 12 male and female northern white rhinos and would expand the diversity of the genetic material available.
The research comes as other great rhino species are on the decline: Several rhino species are critically endangered around the world.
Recently in Kenya, eight black rhinos were found dead in their new sanctuary after drinking water with high saline levels, according to local wildlife workers.
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