World's first successful embryo transfer in rhinos paves the way for saving the northern white rhinos from extinction

A rhinoceros is pregnant through embryo transfer in the first successful use of a method that conservationists said might later make it possible to save the nearly extinct northern white rhino subspecies. In testing with another subspecies, the researchers created a southern white rhino embryo in a lab from an egg and sperm that had been previously collected from other rhinos and transferred it into a southern white rhino surrogate mother at the Ol-Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya on Sept. 24, 2023.

The surrogate is now 70 days pregnant with a well-developed 6.4-centimeter (2.5-inch) male embryo, the BioRescue consortium of scientists and conservationists said Wednesday.“The successful embryo transfer and pregnancy are a proof of concept and allow (researchers) to now safely move to the transfer of northern white rhino embryos — a cornerstone in the mission to save the northern white rhino from extinction,” the group said in a statement. Pregnancies in rhinos last about 16-18 months, meaning the birth may occur early next year.

Roughly 20,000 southern white rhinos remain in Africa. That subspecies as well as another species, the black rhino, are bouncing back from a significant reduction in their populations due to poaching for their horns. However, the northern white rhinoceros subspecies has only two known members left in the world. Najin, a 34-year-old, and her 23-year-old offspring, Fatu, are both incapable of natural reproduction, according to the Ol-Pejeta Conservancy where they live.

The last male white rhino, Sudan, was 45 when he was euthanized in 2018 due to age-related complications. He was Najin's sire. Scientists stored his semen and that of four other dead rhinos, hoping to use them in vitro fertilization with eggs harvested from female northern white rhinos to produce embryos that eventually will be carried by southern white rhino surrogate mothers.

Some conservation groups have argued that it is probably too late to save the northern white rhino with in vitro fertilization, as the species' natural habitat in Chad, Sudan, Uganda, Congo and Central African Republic has been ravaged by human conflict. Skeptics say the efforts should focus on other critically endangered species with a better chance at survival. 

Educational Game Drives with The Elephant Foundation

education remains the key in managing human wildlife conflict.

Colin Dawson with local communities around the Kruger National Park.

Let’s first touch on the topic of apartheid. Apartheid or “apartness” in the language of Afrikaans, was a system of legislation that upheld segregation against non-white citizens of South Africa. After the National Party gained power in South Africa in 1948, its all-white government immediately began enforcing existing policies of racial segregation. Under apartheid, nonwhite South Africans—a majority of the population—were forced to live in separate areas from whites and use separate public facilities. Contact between the two groups was limited. Despite strong and consistent opposition to apartheid within and outside of South Africa, its laws remained in effect for the better part of 50 years. In 1991, the government of President F.W. de Klerk began to repeal most of the legislation that provided the basis for apartheid.

Essentially, the policy governed relations between South Africa’s white minority and nonwhite majority for much of the latter half of the 20th century, sanctioning racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against nonwhites. Although the legislation that formed the foundation of apartheid had been repealed by the early 1990s, the social and economic repercussions of the discriminatory policy persisted into the 21st century.

Causing high levels of poverty that have prevented many from ever stepping foot on the other side of the fence.

The Elephant Foundation is with The Koru Camp working with the Gogos (grannies) in the local communities. Imagine living your whole life next door to some of the most stunning wildlife areas on the planet but never having stepped foot inside. Never having seen an elephant, a rhino, a lion or giraffe, this is the case for these group of Gogos.

Educational Game drives

We work alongside local conservation organizations (Connected Planet Foundation, Transfrontier Africa, The black mambas) to help a group of local grannies and some Granddaughters immersed in the Greater Kruger surrounded by stunning wildlife and pristine wilderness. This week, we have done 2 educational game drives and the gogos have been getting environmental education lessons, plenty of games, nutritious plant-based food and more.

They have had some magical encounters with elephants, giraffes, zebra, warthog, and more and we hope will go back to their communities with a message of hope and connection to nature. The influence that they have in the village and the wider community is huge.

We are proud to make camps like this happen and we thank you for all your support in helping us make it happen. With this, we hope that the message of protecting wildlife will spread and help mitigate the ongoing human-wildlife conflict.

Singapore Authorities seized 20 pieces of rhinoceros horns in Changi Airport. 2 weeks after celebrating World Rhino Day.

20 pieces of Rhinoceros horns were found in transit baggage bound for Laos.

Source: Channel News Asia

Rhino Horns estimated to be worth USD1 million seized at Singapore Airport, largest haul in Singapore to date.

SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board (NParks) on Tuesday (Oct 4) seized 20 pieces of rhinoceros horns that were being smuggled through Singapore Changi Airport.

Airport security and NParks' K9 Unit detected and inspected two bags and found 34kg of rhinoceros horns, estimated to be worth around S$1.2 million, NParks said in a media release on Wednesday.

This is Singapore's largest seizure of rhinoceros horns to date, it added.

"The owner of the bags, who was travelling from South Africa to the Lao People's Democratic Republic through Singapore, was immediately arrested and the rhinoceros horns were seized by NParks."

Rhinoceros are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Singapore is a signatory.

Under CITES, international trade in rhinoceros horns is prohibited.

Singapore is committed to international efforts to curb illegal wildlife trade to ensure the long-term survival of these animals, said NParks.

"Genetic testing is being carried out at NParks' Centre for Wildlife Forensics to identify the rhinoceros species," it added.

"The horns will subsequently be destroyed to prevent them from re-entering the market, disrupting the global supply chain of illegally traded rhinoceros horns."

Under Singapore’s Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, those who are found in possession of CITES-scheduled species in transit in Singapore without valid CITES permits face a fine of up to S$50,000 per scheduled species, not exceeding an aggregate of S$500,000, up to two years in prison, or both.

"Singapore adopts a zero-tolerance stance on the illegal trade of endangered wildlife species, and their parts and derivatives," NParks said.

"Our agencies collaborate closely in a multi-pronged approach, which includes working with our international partners, to maintain vigilance in regulating and enforcing against illegal wildlife trade."

Rangers dehorning Rhino to prevent poaching for its horn. Rhino horns are believed to have medicinal properties in traditional medicine although to date, no scientific and medical study has proved the benefits of consuming rhino horn. Rhino horns are made up of Keratin, the same protein which forms our hair and nails.

Celebrating World Rhino Day

OI Pejeta

On the 22nd of September, we celebrate our planet’s rhino species.

There are five species of Rhinos which are all considered on the ICUN’s red list:

1. White Rhino (Near Threatened)

2. Black Rhino (Critically Endangered)

3. Greater one-horned Rhino (Vulnerable)

4. Sumatran Rhino (Critically Endangered)

5. Javan Rhino (Critically Endangered)

Rhino horns are made up of keratin, the very same substance that forms our nails and hair. There are no medical benefits in consuming Rhino horn. Say no to consuming Rhino Horn.

Facts and Figures (Rhinos in the savannahs)

They are one of the few remaining megaherbivores that weigh more than 2,000 pounds. They preserve the diversified African grasslands and woods, which support a vast array of other species. The savannahs and woods the rhinos call home will change significantly if the rhinos do go extinct.

There are diverse plant and animal species found in the habitat of rhinos. The preservation of rhinos benefits not just the ecosystems on which they depend but also other species that share their habitats, such as elephants, buffalo, large carnivores, and antelopes.

The Greater One Horned Rhino

The Sumatran Rhino

The Javan Rhino