research & training

‘Pumelelo’, the first African buffalo Syncerus( caffer) produced through .

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IVF LIFELINE by Dr Morné de la Rey | Photos by Meldt van der Spuy

Birth of African Buffalo Calf Conceived Through In Vitro Fertilisation Announced

he first African buffalo Assisted reproductive technology calf produced through gives hope for saving the northern in vitro fertilisation, white rhino and other critically Pumelelo, was born on endangered species. T28 June 2016 on the farm of Frans Stapelberg from the Lekkerleef Buffalo Ranch near Marble Hall, Limpopo. The birth marks the first time the species has ever been reproduced through IVF. Pumelelo was introduced to the media on 22 September 2016. The Plus team, led by Dr Morné de la Rey, BVSc., is working to develop techniques that Dr Morné de la Rey can be used to save critically en- dangered species.

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Frans Stapelberg.

This success is hugely important for the prospective breeding of endangered species, and is why we are undertaking this work.

trans-vaginally and ova (eggs) were aspirated from the ovaries of the cow using ultrasound to visualise the process. The eggs were matured and fer- tilised in vitro with frozen-thawed semen from a buffalo bull, Goliat. It “This breakthrough is of great oocytes of a buffalo cow, Vasti, was then grown in a laboratory in- significance as it is the first of its were collected by a technique cubator, in a process known as in kind in the world and holds great called ovum pick-up (OPU), which vitro production (IVP). After seven promise for the continued sur- took place with the cow under full days of growth, the embryo was vival of endangered species.” said anaesthesia. A needle was guided transferred into a surrogate buffalo Dr De la Rey, “Using Assisted

Reproductive Techniques (ARTs) Buffalo embryo. Buffalo IVF embryo on day 7 after fertilisation. in wildlife management, although still in its infancy, is becoming more of a reality. This success is hugely important for the prospec- tive breeding of endangered spe- cies, and is why we are under- taking this work.” In a process similar to ovum recovery in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF), the

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Pumelelo was introduced to the media on 22 September 2016 at a media conference hosted on Lekkerleef Buffalo Ranch, the farm of Frans Stapelberg. cow, which carried the foetus to the animals and trained them to the vaccinations and routine treat- term for 11 months, after which she participate in routine veterinary pro- ments are accomplished without gave birth to a perfect, healthy buf- cedures without need for anaes- anaesthetising the animals.” falo calf. He was named Pumelelo, thesia. Dr Hendrik Hansen from Bela- which means ‘success’ in Zulu. “The superior ranch manage- Bela does the routine wildlife work “Extensive preliminary research ment implemented by Frans and on Lekkerleef and was also respon- was necessary to mature and fer- his team was a significant factor sible for all the anaesthetic proce- tilise eggs and incubate dures. “All the procedures went to an advanced stage of develop- very well without any complica- ment, as all species have different tions,” said Dr Hansen. Dr De la Rey’s work requirements for growth and uti- Dr De la Rey’s work is consid- is considered to be lise different nutrients during the ered to be among the first steps in laboratory phase of the largely un- among the first steps an international collaborative effort charted path of IVF/IVP in African in an international to save the northern white rhino. game species. Every species is dif- collaborative effort to save There are only three northern white ferent and therefore the IVP proce- the northern white rhino. rhino left in the world. The rhino bull, dures also. It has to be discovered There are only three named , and his two cows, for every species,” explains Dr De northern white rhino left Najin and Fatu, are at home at the la Rey. in the world. in . The buffalo used for this proce- The last northern white rhino in dure are part of a herd that has the U.S. died at the San Diego been maintained at the Stapelberg in the success of the IVF project,” Safari Park in 2015. farm for more than 17 years. The said Dr De la Rey. “These facilities “We are delighted to hear about facility was chosen in part because make the handling of the buffalo the success of this technique with they have worked extensively with easier and a large percentage of African buffalo,” said Barbara

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Pregnant southern white or southern square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).

The first steps of wildlife conservation will always remain habitat protection followed by Rhino oocytes (eggs). animal protection.

San Diego Zoo Global is actively working to save rhino species from . They’re Rhino pregnancy diagnosis committed to saving species worldwide by with ultrasound scanning uniting their expertise in animal care and needs special equipment. conservation science with their dedication to inspiring passion for nature.

Durrant, PhD., reproductive phys- techniques in different species,” iologist for Global. said Dr De la Rey. “The first steps “We look forward to working with of wildlife conservation will always Embryo Plus on the effort to bring remain habitat protection followed back the northern white rhino for by animal protection.” In addition the future.” to these basic steps however, he San Diego Zoo Global has pledged to work with a team of sci- ‘’, a male Northern photographed at San Diego Wild Animal Park. entists from around the world to ‘Angalifu’ died. save the species and has created a herd of southern white rhinos that have been trained for non-invasive procedures that are providing un- precedented information about the reproductive physiology of rhinos. “Every success achieved with assisted reproductive technology in wild animals is a step closer to understanding other species’ re- production requirements and how to apply assisted reproduction

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recognises the need for improved in the birth of this calf. Futhi was de- Sable antelope embryo flushed on breeding practices to ensure the in- rived from a single cell taken by bi- day 8 after fertilisation. crease in numbers of these endan- opsy from the ear of a donor cow, gered animals. which was then inserted into an Dr De la Rey has also worked empty cow-egg and later implanted extensively with sable antelope in a recipient cow. and in 2011 he produced the first Embryo Plus is busy with collabo- successful embryo transfer calves rative efforts with the Rhino Pride of these magnificent antelope at Foundation (RPF) and ESCO labo- Tholokulu near Brits. ratories to develop an endangered Embryo Plus is co-owned by Dr De species breeding centre at Thaba la Rey and Dr Robert Treadwell and Manzi Wildlife Services near Bela- in 2003 they also received world- Bela. The RPF-ESBC wide acclaim for their involvement in will focus mainly on assisted reproduction the cloning of the first animal on the Sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), African continent, a healthy Holstein work on rhino, but will South . Photo © EcoPrint. heifer named Futhi, born in April certainly also look at 2003 at the Embryo Plus Centre at other endangered Brits. No semen or bull was involved species.

The RPF-ESBC will focus mainly on assisted reproduction work on rhino, but will certainly also look at other endangered species.

Northern white rhinoceros, or northern square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni). As of November 2015, there are only three rhinos of this subspecies left. They all belong to the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the but live in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya and are protected round-the-clock by armed guards. According to the latest IUCN's assessment from 2011, the subspecies is considered ’Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct in the Wild)’. Photo © Michael Dalton-Smith.

Should you wish to make contributions visit: www.rhinopridefoundation.org.za For more information, contact Dr Morné de la Rey: [email protected]

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