How to save a rhino

There are two distinct subspecies of white rhino.  The southern white rhino is a common and widespread kind of rhino, while the northern white rhino is on the verge of extinction.  Northern white rhinos are listed as critically endangered.  As far as we can tell, they may already be extinct in the wild.  The last male northern white rhino in captivity died in 2018, and the two remaining females have been unable to carry a calf to term.

However, scientists this year announced that they may have discovered a way to save the northern white rhino from complete extinction.  By harvesting eggs from  the female northern white rhinos and using sperm from the dead male northern white rhinos, scientists were able to create viable embryos.  These embryos were implanted into southern white rhinos via IVF.  The procedure produced a successful pregnancy!

Rhinos have long gestation periods--16-18 months!  Sadly, the surrogate mother carrying the northern white rhino fetus died of a bacterial infection eleven months into her pregnancy.  A post-mortem on the surrogate mother found that the embryo had been developing well and had a 95% chance of being born alive if the mother had survived.  Scientists plan to implant more embryos in the coming months and continue trying to save the northern white rhinos.