Rhino Species as a Whole
The species of the rhino has been slowly dying over the years and becoming a huge concern. However, it seemed that there would be no answer that could potentially save the white rhino. Furthering this claim, there were only 2 known white rhinos that were left in the world, and they were both females.
However, they unfortunately could not bear any offspring, and scientists were left dumbfounded as to what they could possibly do. Subsequently, they resorted to science, to try and figure out a way that they can save their species from becoming extinct. Poachers were targeting them profusely around the 1960’s which resulted in their almost extinction.
Science Paves the Way to Saving This Species
Since the early 2000s, scientists have been trying to come up with a solution for saving this species. However, it certainly has not been easy whatsoever. “To achieve the first successful embryo transfer in a rhino is a huge step,” mentions Susanne Holtze, a scientist at Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Germany, who told BBC News.
This would be an incredible breakthrough, healing the ecosystem with the presence of the white rhinos. However, it is estimated that this process may take a while, around 15 years to fully let them back into the wild.
The Future of the White Rhinos
The hope is that there is less poaching of these rhinos, as they heal the ecosystem in ways other animals and humans do not. It is imperative that there are stricter rules against the poaching of rhinos, let alone any animal in the wild.
Each animal has their way of contributing to the ecosystem, in one way or another. Therefore, being able to enforce that, and continuing to pursue this particular breakthrough, will surely benefit these rhinos and the rest of the world in many ways. However, this is a communal effort.
The unfortunate fact of the matter is, these embryo transfers are a miracle. Not many species had the fortune of not going extinct, as for many it was not possible. Within the near future, white rhinos may not be at the borderline of being extinct anymore.
Written by David Loran Jr
Sources:
The Washington Post: Scientific breakthrough may save northern white rhino through surrogacy
BBC News: World’s first IVF rhino pregnancy ‘could save species’
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of su neko’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Daniel Foster’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
