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Northern White Rhino
About
The Northern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) is one of the world's most critically endangered animals. Only two individuals remain, both of which are female-Najin and Fatu-residing at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
1. Reasons for Near Extinction
- Poaching: Their horns are highly valued in illegal wildlife trade.
- Habitat Loss: Human expansion and conflicts have destroyed their natural habitat.
- Low Reproductive Rates: The last male, Sudan, died in 2018, leaving only two females.
2. Conservation Efforts
- Artificial Reproductive Technologies (ART): Scientists are developing in vitro fertilization (IVF) using frozen sperm from deceased males.
- Surrogate Pregnancy: Plans to use Southern White Rhinos as surrogate mothers.
- Genetic Engineering: Efforts like cloning and gene editing (CRISPR) are being explored.
3. Key Organizations Involved
- Ol Pejeta Conservancy (Kenya) - Home to the last two Northern White Rhinos.
- BioRescue Project - Leading efforts in IVF and genetic research.
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance - Preserving frozen genetic material for future revival.
4. Future Prospects
- If ART and cloning succeed, Northern White Rhinos could be brought back from the brink.
- Without intervention, they will likely become functionally extinct within a decade.
-- Daily News Section Compiled
By Vishwas Nimbalkar