Scientists have successfully harvested ten immature egg cells from the last two northern white rhinos on the planet.
Najin and her daughter Fatu live in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, they are unable to carry calves and so egg extraction is needed. Scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research had inseminated using IVF in the hopes of creating viable offspring to save the species.
The harvesting of these eggs is a major step forward in helping the species back from the brink of extinction. Both are doing well after the extraction, recovering from the anesthesia.
The ovums are being transported to Italy for fertilisations. It is hoped that there will be viable embryos which can be implanted in surrogates. The last remaining male northern white rhino Sudan, died in 2018.
The team already have three embryos from a previously successful extraction and fertilisation attempt that are awaiting implantation. These eggs were extracted a year ago.
Watch Fatu wake up after her surgery:
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Image: Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research/ Instagram
