Critically endangered, only two individual females are currently alive.
In nature, this would be the end.
The species would become a thing of the past, lost to time and human greed for rhino horns.
One of the last Northern White Rhinos at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. (Photo: Lengai101 viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY 3.0 DEED)
However, modern science might just reverse the dismal course of events.
The northern white rhino was once abundant in northern Africa.
Recent efforts have included preemptively and painlesslyremoving the hornsof rhinos to make them less attractive targets.
However, for the northern white rhino it was largely too late.
At that time there were four, two male and two female.
But both males perished in 2014 and 2018 respectively.
That leaves only the females: Najin and Fatu.
They are mother and daughter.
Impregnating rhinos is tricky due to the species immense size, so it was necessary to practice the skills.
Therefore, researchers used IVF on southern white rhinos, who are much less endangered.
Combining eggs and sperm from captive rhinos, they chose surrogate mothers.
Despite this sad ending, the rhino IVF worked.
However, Najin and Fatu are unable to carry the baby rhino due to their health.
Another southern white rhino surrogate will be selected.
Scientists feel confident that their biology is similar enough to avoid issues.
