Czech wildlife experts turn to IVF in desperate, last-ditch attempt to save northern white rhino
Czech wildlife experts from the Dvůr Králové Zoo, which is spearheading efforts to save the northern white rhino from extinction, are ringing alarm bells. With the number of specimens now down to five and a single male left from the species the possibilities for natural breeding are practically non-existent. I asked Jan Stejskal, in situ project coordinator at Dvůr Kralové Zoo, about the options left.
And one of the males that might have been able to breed has since died?
“Yes, that happened on October 17th and it was very bad news for us. Suni was the last male who we were hoping might be able to mount females. So the crucial change in the whole breeding program came in October. Actually, he was one of the animals that was supposed to be examined as well, but unfortunately he did not live long enough…”
So to sum it up - there are now just five northern white rhinos left on the planet?
“That is true. At the time when Suni died there were six of them left, but later on December 14th another male – Angalifu - died in San Diego Zoo. So we are down to five now. “
And are they all in this nature reserve in Kenya or is one of them still at Dvůr Kralové Zoo?
“Three of them are in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, one female is in Dvůr Kralové Zoo in the Czech Republic and one female is in the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.”
So there is just a single male northern white rhino left – and you are not very hopeful that he could breed?
“We are actually almost sure that he could not breed naturally anymore because he is more than 40 years old, so for him it would be really challenging to mount a female. So, yes, all the possibilities for natural mating are gone at the moment.”
You attended a meeting of experts in Kenya in January who debated what is to be done next. What is the conclusion of that meeting?
And how would it be done – you would use a southern white rhino female for the embryo transfer?
“Well, the first step would be to successfully harvest samples, which is quite challenging. After that we would have to keep them stored in a safe place and when the techniques are developed and tested enough we would start with the embryo transfer – that means that an embryo would be created in artificial conditions and this embryo would be put in a southern white rhino female. Si it is going to be a wider program and we have only just started to discuss how exactly to proceed. So there is a lot ahead of us and it seems that we will need to include more experts in the field of artificial reproduction –such as experts in the artificial reproduction of horses – to fully understand what and how could be achieved. “
You say this has never been attempted with rhinos – has it been successful in other breeds?
“Yes, actually, IV techniques are successfully used in the reproduction of bovines and horses. There are special institutes that can offer this on a commercial basis. This is proof that it can really work.”
And would this method be capable of providing enough rhinos for them to start a healthy population and for the northern white rhino to make a come-back?
“This is difficult to say without doubt, but we hope it could be possible. I should also mention that in San Diego Zoo they have live cell cultures of more animals which means we would have samples for IVF and if they push ahead with their genetic engineering research and at some point in the future are able to produce northern white rhinos through genetic engineering then we believe that even the specimens that would come out of IVF attempts could be used to re-start a northern white rhino population. The two techniques could be used together.”
“That is a question I have been asked repeatedly in the past few weeks – when we could expect to see the first calf born through IVF. And to be honest I cannot give you a time frame. It still needs to be discussed with experts. I can say at this point that it will not be months. Hopefully it might be years, but it is difficult to be more precise.”
And do you think that even if IV fertilization methods were to fail and the white rhino would become extinct then there would still be an attempt to bring the species back through genetic engineering?
“Yes, that’s right. There would still be the hope that we could bring the species back through genetic engineering.”
What is the ethical stand on this?
“Well, these are certainly questions that need to be discussed as well, but I would say that these ethical questions would be raised even in connection with IVF. We use IVF regularly with horses and bovines and it could happen that IVF techniques could bring the species back to life at a time when all of the five rhinos that are left are gone. Personally, I think that we need to keep in mind that it was humans who brought the species to near extinction by poaching and so it is our responsibility to do all that we can to try to keep them alive. “
What about breeding in captivity –is that simply no longer an option? Because Dvůr Kralové Zoo managed to breed northern white rhinos in captivity in the past – the last was born in the year 2,000 was it not?
“Yes, the last northern white rhino was born in captivity in our zoo in the year 2,000. Breeding in captivity actually extended the presence of northern white rhinos on our planet – without it they would be gone already. All the remaining rhinos left – in Ol Pejecta, in San Diego or here –they are here only thanks to the Dvůr Kralové Zoo. So I wouldn’t say that breeding in captivity failed. The problem was that the rate of reproduction was too low. That was one of the reasons why we decided to take them to Africa – to see if the impulse from a new natural habitat around them would not help prompt their breeding. So breeding in captivity was not a problem - the problem was that there was no political will in Congo to send more rhinos from the wild to some facility where such a breeding program could be overseen by experts in the field. And of course the main reason why we do not have any more northern white rhinos is the demand for rhino horns in Eastern Asia –that has been the main problem.”
As you said, there are just five northern white rhinos left – how old are they – when would we lose the very last northern white rhino if your efforts to preserve the species fail?
